Richard Samuel Reynolds III

1934 - 2023

REYNOLDS, Richard Samuel III, "Major", died on September 18, 2023, having lived his life by an axiom of British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill, who said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

Mr. Reynolds was born August 8, 1934 in New York City to Richard Samuel Reynolds, Jr., Chairman and President of Reynolds Metals Company, and Virginia Sargeant Reynolds. His nickname of "Major" came from his great grandfather, Major Abram David Reynolds. His grandparents were Richard Samuel Reynolds, founder of Reynolds Metals Company and owner of Robertshaw Controls, and Julia Louise Reynolds. He was also predeceased by his brother, Virginia Lt. Governor, Julian Sargeant Reynolds, who died in 1971; and his beloved companion dog, Rob Roy Reynolds, who died in 2020.

Mr. Reynolds was formerly Vice President and a Director of Robertshaw Controls Company where he was responsible for mergers and acquisitions. He later became Managing Director of the Reynolds Trusts. In addition, he was President of the Richard S. Reynolds Foundation and along with his cousins, Randolph N. Reynolds, Glenn Reynolds Martin and Dorothy Reynolds Brotherton, worked to provide over $66 million in grants for arts, education, environment, health, and basic human needs. Mr. Reynolds also served as President of the Missionary Emergency Fund created by Major A.D. Reynolds.

For decades, Mr. Reynolds was an outspoken advocate for the civil rights movement and efforts to support diversity in employment, education, and in those who showed promise as candidates for local, state and federal office.

Mr. Reynolds served as co-chair of the Capitol Square Civil Rights Memorial Fund Raising Committee. In support of that project, he and his cousins voted to make the lead gift to the memorial with funds from the Richard S. Reynolds Foundation. Unveiled on July 21, 2008, by Governor Timothy M. Kaine, the memorial would later be described by Architectural Digest as the second most beautiful civil rights monument in America. In recognition of his dedication, he was awarded the Wm P. Robinson Medal by the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus.

Over a fifty three year period Mr. Reynolds gave service to the Commonwealth of Virginia by serving on the State Board for Community Colleges, in the General Assembly House of Delegates, and as a commissioner on the Virginia Port Authority. He gave service to the boards of Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Jamestown-Yorktown Educational Trust, and the Medical College of Virginia Foundation.

Mr. Reynolds also sat on the boards of Virginia Union University, Woodberry Forest School, National Conference of Christians and Jews, Salvation Army, Boys Club of Richmond, the Virginia Advisory Committee U.S. Commission of Civil Rights, and the Board of Associates of the University of Richmond.

An ardent fundraiser, Mr. Reynolds served as chairman of campaigns for the Richmond Area United Givers Fund, United Negro College Fund, Jobs for Virginia Graduates, and the Richmond Area Mental Health Association.

He was Honorary Chairman of capital campaigns for J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and Woodberry Forest School. In addition, he served on the capital campaign committee for Feed More.

Mr. Reynolds attended St. Christopher's School, graduated magna cum laude from Woodberry Forest School, and earned a BA in History, with honors, from Princeton University.

Mr. Reynolds was a member of the Commonwealth Club and The Country Club of Virginia, Cottage Club, Princeton, NJ and the Knickerbocker Club, New York, NY. He was a member and trustee of Second Presbyterian Church, Richmond.

He is survived by his wife, Pamela C. Reynolds; his son, Richard Samuel Reynolds IV and his children, Martha Blair Reynolds, Richard Clark Reynolds, and Sarah Katherine Reynolds; daughter, Anne Brice Reynolds Robertson and her children William Brice Robertson, Samuel Leigh Robertson, Katherine Grace Robertson, and Owen Reynolds Robertson; and daughter Katherine Reynolds Barsness and son-in-law George P. Barsness Sr., and their children George Paul Barsness, Jr and his wife Alden Denny Barsness, and Zachary Reynolds Barsness, and two great granddaughters; Margaret Boyd Barsness and Louise Denny Barsness. He is also survived by nieces Virginia Reynolds Parker and Elizabeth Reynolds Daus, and nephews Julian Sargeant Reynolds, Jr. and Richard Roland Reynolds.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 11 a.m., at Second Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Please consider making a memorial gift to the Richmond SPCA, 2519 Hermitage Road, Richmond, Virginia 23220 or to The Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, 300 Arboretum Place, Richmond, Virginia 23236.