James "Pete" Reeves

James "Pete" Reeves passed away peacefully in his sleep, at home on January 15th, 2024 at the age of 90. He was born on July 31, 1933 to Irving Reeves, Sr. and Wahneta Anderson in Eatontown, NJ off of West Street next to Wampum Lake. He was named after Dr. James Parker, Sr. who came from Red Bank to deliver him.
Pete's great-grandparents Charles Reeves and Hannah Van Clief, who were former slaves, are buried in the historic Cedar View Cemetery in Lincroft, NJ, where Pete attended burials as a child.
Pete grew up in Red Bank, NJ and graduated from Red Bank High School in 1951 as an All-State athlete in football, basketball and track. Dr. James Parker, Sr. wrote to several colleges about his character and athleticism. South Carolina State offered him a football scholarship and Virginia Union offered him a basketball scholarship. Because of a lynching of a Black man in 1947 in South Carolina that garnered international attention, his mother insisted he attend Virginia Union University. As a captain of the basketball team, he led Virginia Union to win the CIAA championship in March of 1952 held in Baltimore, MD at Hurt Gymnasium at Morgan State College.
After college, Pete got married and started a family in Long Branch, NJ. Pete served in the army from 1956 in Germany until his discharge in 1958 at Fort Dix, NJ. While overseas he was recruited by a former high school classmate to play basketball for the Army. Pete was undefeated representing the Army in ping pong tournaments against Asian champions. Later, Pete was also recruited by the New York Clowns, the farm team of the Harlem Globetrotters.
After the Army, Pete and his brother Irving taught the fundamentals of football to a group of kids in Long Branch from Lippincott Avenue. They would scrimmage against kids from New Shrewsbury coached by Pete's good friend and high school mentor, Walter "Babe" Jackson. This was the start of Pete touching the lives of so many as a coach and as a mentor.
Pete moved back to Red Bank where he raised his family. Pete worked at the Monmouth Park racetrack and the Martin Rubber Company. He then went to work for Van Brunt & Son in Old Bridge, NJ, where he became a proud member of the Teamsters Union Local 701. After Van Brunt went out of business, he worked nights as a security guard while substitute teaching at the River Street School. There he became the assistant basketball coach to Wade Turnock. Pete and Wade fed Red Bank Regional High School multiple championship teams throughout the years. Pete also coached basketball at Saint James Grammar School in Red Bank. He retired from the Red Bank Middle School as an Assistant to the Vice Principal. Pete and Wade attended many games together as they followed the lives of the students they had formerly coached.
After retirement, Pete also enjoyed attending football and basketball games with former high school basketball teammates Skip Smith and Pete Foster. Lem Walker, who was a friend and like a son to him, chauffeured him to games all over the country when he could no longer drive.
Pete was a walking encyclopedia of sports and everything Red Bank. In later years he became a big fan of women's basketball and a few soap operas. He loved talking on the phone with his niece Linda Reeves Vincent several times a week about basketball.
In 2017, Pete was inducted into the Red Bank Regional High School's inaugural class for the Athletic Hall of Fame. Pete suggested many nominations of other great athletes to Charles Taylor, a founding committee member of the hall of fame.
Pete was most proud of being called "Coach" and always wanted to be remembered as a champion and advocate for young people.
Pete was predeceased by his parents, his daughter Wahneta, his sister Jenny Berry, and brothers Irving "Sonny" Reeves and infant Alfred Reeves.
Pete is survived by eight children, Jimi, Orlando, FL, Estelle Dickerson, Midlothian, VA, Yvonne, Red Bank, Pete, Red Bank, Debbie Reeves Elmore (Kevin), Bel Air, MD, Irving (Ayanna), Gaithersburg, MD, Chris, Newark, NJ, David, Helena, MT, seventeen grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren, nephew Kade Weston and niece Linda Reeves Vincent, best friend since five years old, William "Skip" Smith (#7 from the corner) and his wife Doris.
All who knew Pete Reeves treasured him and admired his passion for life, his dedication to the students he coached, his love for his large family; children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and his loyalty to good friends. He will be eternally missed but we will hold him in our hearts forever.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation in memory of Pete to a memorial scholarship, the preservation of Cedar View cemetery or to a charity of your choice.
For the Pete Reeves Memorial Scholarship make checks payable to:
Red Bank Regional High School
101 Ridge Road
Little Silver, NJ 07739
NOTE: In Memory of Pete Reeves
For Cedar View Cemetery, make donation online or make check payable to: Friends of Cedar View Cemetery
PO Box 371
Lincroft, NJ 07738
NOTE: In Memory of Pete Reeves
The family invites you to celebrate Pete's life to share stories and laughter at 1:00 pm Saturday, April 6th, 2024 at Red Bank Middle School, 101 Harding Rd, Red Bank, NJ 07701
The family would like to thank Jersey Shore Cremation, 43 Taylor Avenue, Manasquan, NJ for their exceptional guidance and compassion. Please share a memory or express condolences at https://www.jerseyshorecremation.com/obituaries/James-Pete-Reeves?obId=30965777#/celebrationWall