Jane C. Reeves

Jane Celeste Davis Reeves departed this life on Friday, July 19, 2024. Jane was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on January 2, 1930, to Reverend George E. Davis and Anita Amelia Davis. She moved to Harrisburg, PA, in June 1951 when her father was called to pastor at Mitchell Memorial United Methodist Church. 

Jane graduated Cum Laude from the HBCU Storer College in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, which merged with what is now Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. In Jane’s senior year in college, she was selected as the senior who best represented the ideals of Storer College in the year 1950. She also attended and completed Lebanon Valley College’s Church Music Institute Program, which focused on music theory and music instruction.

Jane taught biology at Carver High School in Towson, Maryland, and taught the gifted math and science classes at the old Edison Junior High School in Harrisburg. She was a member of Beta Kappa Chi Science Society. She also worked for the federal government, retiring from the Naval Ships Parts Control Center in Mechanicsburg, PA, in 1985. 

Jane served as organist and Minister of Music at Camp Curtin Mitchell Memorial United Methodist Church for over 50 years. She also served as chairperson of the Administrative Council and Chairperson of the Pastor-Parrish Relations Committee. She also served as organist at Capital Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg. 

Jane’s life was filled with music. She sang with the Harrisburg Choral Society and CAMA, the Capital Area Music Association, with Dr. Anthony Leach as her mentor. She was also a piano teacher who trained many young people and adults in the Harrisburg area. 

In addition to Jane’s musical interests, she was also a member of the Omega Psi Phi Wives. Jane volunteered at the Camp Curtin Mitchell Memorial Soup Kitchen for 25 years. Her hobbies included sewing, knitting, crocheting, and completing the New York Times crossword puzzles.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents, sister Amelia Duhart Davis, brother Reginald Davis, and husband of 45 years, Julius Vance Reeves Jr. of Middletown, PA.

She leaves to mourn two daughters, Christina (Chrissy) Reeves-Darden of Harrisburg and Allison Reeves of Philadelphia; one son, Justin V. Reeves of Philadelphia; one brother, George E. Davis Jr. of Clinton, Maryland; a sister, Reverend Bernice Stevens of Harrisburg; four grandchildren, Dominique Darden, Julia Reeves, Justin Reeves Jr., and Jacob Reeves; plus many nieces and nephews, and sisters- and brothers-in-law from Middletown. 

Jane’s favorite Bible verse, Romans 8:28, tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.

Services will be held on Saturday, July 27th, 2024, at Capital Presbyterian Church at 1401 Cumberland Street, Harrisburg, PA 17103. The viewing will begin at 9AM with services following at 10AM. Burial and internment will be held at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens at 6701 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17112.