George R. Rea Sr.

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, November 10, 2010

    Services for George Robert Rea Sr. will be held Thursday, at 11 a.m., at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with the Revs. Luther S. Ott, Walton Jones and Edward O’Connor officiating. Burial will be in St. Paul’s Columbarium with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

    Mr. Rea, 95, of Meridian died Monday, Nov. 8, 2010, at Aldersgate Retirement Center. A veteran of the United States Navy, Mr. Rea attended Copiah-Lincoln Junior College and received his accounting degree from La Salle University. His was the highest grade earned in the state exam the year he became a Certified Public Accountant.

    In 1942, Mr. Rea became a partner in the newly-established firm, Ward and Rea. The firm later became Rea, Shaw, Giffin and Stuart where he continued to work into his 80’s. Mr. Rea’s work and influence has extended well beyond our city and state.

    An avid golfer, George Rea’s community and service activities included service as a Chamber of Commerce Board member and President of the Mississippi Society of CPA’s. His personal devotion was to his church, having served St. Paul’s as an adult Sunday school teacher, Vestry member, senior warden and Treasurer. For many years he was active in the National Episcopal Church in a number of capacities, serving on the Executive Committee as Chairman of the Audit Committee. He served also as treasurer of the Diocese of Mississippi for over 30 years.

    Mr. Rea is survived by his brother, B.H. Rea and his wife, Dee of Jacksonville, Fla.; son, George Robert Rea Jr. and his wife, Karen; his daughter, Merrilyn Rea Thomson; and son, Charles Edwin Rea and his wife, Bobbie. His grandchildren include Merry Jo Rea, Paul Montjoy IV, George Rea Montjoy and Linn Montjoy, Barbara Lasseigne and her husband, Jason; Sarah Rea; Meredith Rea and John Rea and his wife, Kim. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren and Lil Sledge.

    He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Josephine Blanks Rea; a great-grandson, William Lee Montjoy; a sister, Katharine Rea; and, his brother, Charles Rea.

    In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church or to the George and Jo Rea Scholarship Fund at Meridian Community College or William Lee Montjoy Memorial Education Fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

    Honorary pallbearers are Mark Porter, Hunter George Weddington and Louise Hudnall.

    Friends and family may sign the online guest book at www.robertbarhamffh.com.

    Visitation will be Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the church Parish Hall.