Cedric Reynolds

GREENSBORO Cedric Stovall Reynolds, known as Ted, died early in the morning of March 9, 2017. He was 78 years old. It was the end of life for a remarkable man, whose mind, affections and wit will be missed. Ted was born in Sewanee, Tennessee, on February 14, 1939. He was the youngest of three sons born to George and Marion Reynolds. He was pre-deceased by his parents and by his oldest brother, George. He is survived by his devoted wife of 37 years, Rita George Reynolds, and by his brother, Albert, of Charlottesville, Virginia. Other survivors include his nephew, Albert, Jr., of Nashville, Tennessee, and his nieces Charlotte Merrell of Somerville, Massachusetts, and Marion Dunleavey of Troy, New York, plus great-nieces and nephews who loved him dearly. Unbidden and with characteristic wit, in a letter to a colleague at some point in time, Ted gave this brief autobiographical sketch of himself: "Ted Reynolds survived his childhood in Sewanee, Tennessee, and his prep school education, which included military science and tactics, as well as Latin, French, and English, and an introduction to the large life on Bourbon Street. He became an accomplished snob in college where he made A's, wrote poetry, and disdained the whole idea of commerce and business. This fractious attitude continued during the 13 years he taught English and American literature at various universities (Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Ohio at Athens), the last of which was UNC Greensboro. Once out of academia he was forced to make a living, having inherited a lofty attitude but a lowly bank account. Lo! His attitude toward commerce and business altered. Now, having survived in several different businesses, he recalls dimly at day's end the pleasures of leisure and reflection he squandered while in the groves of academe. But he is no longer a snob." Ted went on to start a most successful biotech business named Stovall Life Science with his nephew, Al. That company earned several US patents and was the satisfying expansion of the rest of Ted's working life. His keen mind, warmth, wit and genuine interest in other people found expression in the deep friendships he made throughout his career. He was unimpressed by the world and had an unapologetic contempt for much of human beings' folly, as he saw it. He saw the irony of situations and made people laugh as he "called them out." It must also be said that he was known and revered for his particular recipe for Manhattan cocktails, for which some will forever thank him. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 1, at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 3506 Lawndale Dr., Greensboro, NC 27408. Donations in memory of Ted may be made to St. Francis Episcopal Church and the family requests that the words Book Sale/Outreach be put on the memo line of your check. Final burial will be in Sewanee, Tennessee, the place of his birth and always the place of his heart.