Sara Jane Reid Eads

1926 - 2024

Sara Jane Reid Eads
07/21/1926 - 08/30/2024
Sara Jane Reid Eads passed away peacefully on August 30, 2024, age 98. Our family has lost a treasure. Sara Jane, Mom, Sarita, Rusty and Mame, all in one person, was a passionate and deeply intelligent woman who lived unapologetically outside the confines of her generation of women. Mame possessed exceptional life force expressed by her love of travel and a lifetime of pioneering accomplishments.
Not deterred by losing both her parents by the age of 15, she graduated as salutatorian of her Canton, Mississippi high school class because the valedictorian could not be a girl. Sara Jane found her way to Louisiana State University, where she became a cheerleader, majoring in Spanish. Her life of adventure began in 1948 when she boarded a banana boat in New Orleans bound for Cuba to pursue a masters in Spanish at the University of Havana. To make ends meet she was the society columnist for the local paper. Her beat was the Tropicana. Thus began her lifelong love of languages, travel and Latin cultures.
Shortly thereafter she moved to Houston where she met, and six weeks later, married Ralph Eads, with whom she shared a rich and passion-filled 44 years. They built a close-knit family and a successful business together, The Eads Company.
As the requirements of child rearing diminished, Sara Jane got busy. The breadth of her knowledge, activities and interests is truly amazing. They include: establishing in 1960 a free English language school in Houston for recent Spanish speaking immigrants; developing a deep love of French wine, being among the first women inducted into the Chevalier du Tastevin and becoming a wine importer in Houston; editing two fantastic cook books; pioneering organic farming practices in Texas and writing the earliest standards; foundational support for the Open Door Mission men's shelter; deep involvement in the Houston Grand Opera; learning four languages including a bit of Mandarin; and developing a broad, incisive view of world affairs, which included traveling to over 100 countries.
Sara Jane endured more than her share of tragedy: orphaned by 15; tragically losing beloved son, Tom, and brother Bill; and experiencing very poor vision for the last 20 years preventing her from reading, one of her passions. She felt these wounds deeply but never complained, always remained irrepressibly optimistic and focused on advancing her family. She was well known for demonstrating her intelligence, humor and wisdom with pithy, insightful comments that went straight to the heart of the matter.
Mame gave our family an abiding love of languages and foreign travel, embracing the cultures of the world, music, art and fabulous parties. The stylish meals she created, always accompanied by great wine (and maybe a little Jack Daniels), are legendary. Her spirit lives on in her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who will cherish her memories forever and be inspired by her example.
She is preceded in death by her parents, William and Lillian (MacIntyre) Reid; brother, William M. Reid; son, Tom Eads; husband, Ralph Eads; and companion, Roberto Figueroa. Mame is survived by her children and their spouses John and Mary Eads; Carol Eads Bailey and Steve Medwell; and Ralph and Lisa Eads as well as 13 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, with 2 more on the way.
We are eternally grateful to Shemica Perrino and Apiphany McAfee who provided loving and devoted care for Mame during the last years of her life. Our family is also forever indebted to the extraordinary Dr Jim Pool, who has made our family happier and healthier for over 30 years.
A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, December 3rd at 3:00 pm at the Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, Texas, followed by a Mexican Fiesta to celebrate Sara Jane's life and love for the Latin culture.