In this edition of Mississippi Stories, Mississippi Today Editor-At-Large Marshall Ramsey sits down with Tupelo businessman, philanthropist and former Mayor Jack Reed, Jr..

Jack joined Tupelo’s Reed’s in 1980 after several years practicing law in Tupelo. He became President in 1987. Jack was born and raised in Tupelo. He graduated with honors from both Tupelo High School and Vanderbilt University. At the University of Mississippi School of Law he served on the Editorial Board of the Mississippi Law Journal and as President of the Law School Student Body. Following a pathway walked by his father and Chairman, Jack Reed, Sr., and his grandfather and founder R. W. Reed, Sr., Jack had devoted much time and energy to putting back into his communities – both local and state. He has served as Chairman of the Community Development Foundation, the United Way of Greater Lee County, Northeast Mississippi Habitat for Humanity, The Free Clinic, the Kiwanis Club, the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association, and the Mississippi Economic Council. Jack and his wife Lisa have two children — a daughter Kirk Reed Forrester, who with her husband Tate has two daughters and two sons, Bess, Reed, Mack, and Sam; and a son Jack, with his wife Ashley, has a son named Jack.

His personal Motto is “God wants life to be a party; it’s up to us to make sure that everyone is invited.”

WATCH ALL OF MARSHALL’S MISSISSIPPI STORIES

We want to hear from you!

Central to our mission at Mississippi Today is inspiring civic engagement. We think critically about how we can foster healthy dialogue between people who think differently about government and politics. We believe that conversation — raw, earnest talking and listening to better understand each other — is vital to the future of Mississippi. We encourage you to engage with us and each other on our social media accounts, email our reporters directly or leave a comment for our editor by clicking the button below.


Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.

Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today’s Editor-At-Large. He’s also host of a weekly statewide radio program and a television program on Mississippi Public Broadcasting and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award.