Ike Reece

Ike Reece, 90, was the eldest son of 11 children born to Andrew Patton Reece — a World War I Army cook — and Mae McBryar Reece.

Born May 29, 1931, he was a child of the Great Depression.

Shortly after his father’s death on August 5, 1947, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was soon stationed in Germany.

Upon his arrival in the war-ravaged country, he discovered the warmth and sincerity of the German people. He met the love of his life in Furth Germany.

Ike and Luise Woyta married in 1950. Sergeant Reece brought his bride and German-born daughter, Margitta, home to Georgia in 1956. As a former Army sergeant, he was hired as the site supervisor for the large Van Tres poultry farm on the top of Burnt Mountain — not far from the home place of his grandfather, James Jefferson Reece. Their son, Wayne, was born the following year at the clinic in Tate.

Over the next 60 years, he earned a living in a number of positions from the former J & C Spread House, to the Whitestone mines to working as a supervisor in carpet mills in Ellijay and Dalton. For five years he was the sole sales and delivery person for the Pepsi Cola Company in Gilmer, Fannin and Pickens counties.

In the 1960s, he was ordained as a deacon in the Pleasant Union Baptist Church in Dawson County. Fifty years later he would learn that the church had actually been founded by his great-great-grandfather, the Rev. James Marion Reece Sr. in the 1850s. (If you are a Reece or related to a Reece with roots in Gilmer County, you are very likely a descendant of the Rev. James Marion Reece Sr.)

In 1974, during the height of a recession, the carpet mill where Ike worked closed and he enrolled in the heating and air conditioning program at Pickens Tech. From this education, he and Luise went on to establish a successful business, North Georgia Appliance Service, that operated in downtown Ellijay for a number of years.

In 1982, he was asked to be the Gilmer County coordinator for the Joe Frank Harris for Governor Campaign. Always practical and ever resourceful, he took the initiative to organize a handful of volunteers who became perhaps the most prolific sign brigade in the state’s electoral history. Over the next few months, they covered the northern half of the state during the wee hours of the morning, posting signs and posters for Harris everywhere.

The momentum and hard work were contagious. Countless other individuals, families and churches poured their efforts into the campaign. By the Spring, Ellijay became the site of the second Joe Frank Harris for Governor campaign office in the building directly across Main Street from North Georgia Appliance Service.

In November 1982, Harris was elected the 78th Governor of Georgia. Gilmer County had played a significant role.

Ike and Luise managed the Fairfield Apartments in Jasper for almost 30 years, providing affordable housing to local families and serving as teachers, friends and mentors for the residents.

He was a member of the Oak Bowery Masonic Lodge for more than 50 years. He was also a 50-year Royal Arch Mason and a member of Ellijay Chapter Number 150.

He is preceded in death by brothers and sisters Wancie, Ella Mae, Fuller, Minnie, Lewis, Inez, Roy, Charles (Feller).

He is survived by wife of 71 years, Luise. While everyone always knew of Luise’s German roots, the family did not discover until 2016 that the Reeces also descended from Germans. The Reece family originated in Gamburg, Germany, a small village less than 90 miles from Nuremberg. Johann Jacob Ries sailed to Philadelphia aboard the Chesterfield with his wife and baby son, Valentine in 1750. The earlier pioneers settled in the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina and were neighbors to Daniel Boone’s father. The family name was soon changed to Reece.

In addition, he is survived by children, Margitta Solomon (David), Wayne (Michael); granddaughter, Jamila Dougherty; sister, Shirley Daley (Larry); and brother, Woodrow (Ken).

There are a host of nephews and nieces in both Germany and Ellijay. The Ellijay family helped organize his graveside memorial to was held at Yukon Cemetery Saturday, March 26, at 1 p.m., with Pastor Daniel Reece officiating.

Music was by Terry and Eva Reece.

The U.S. Army provided taps and presented the American flag to the family.

The military gun salute was given by the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 47, Pickens County.

Pallbearers were members of the family: Roy Reece Jr., James Wright, Russ Bailey, Travis Davis, Kolbie Reece and Michael Reece.

Memorial contributions can be made at Pleasant Union Baptist Church, c/o Charles Hammontree, 286 McClain Mountain Road, Jasper, GA 30143.

Bernhardt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.