Sgt. Jeffrey Alexander Reed who killed in action while on duty in Iraq received a full military burial.

Army Sgt. Jeffrey Alexander Reed, 23, of Chester was laid to rest last Tuesday surrounded by family and friends at Sunset Memorial Park.  The 2004 L.C. Bird High School graduate was killed March 2 when his vehicle was struck by a grenade in Balad, Iraq, just north of Baghdad.  Along with the Ft. Lee Army Honor guard, and a 21-gun salute, members of the Chesterfield County Police, Fire, and Sheriff Honor Guard, and members of the Patriot Guard Riders from across the state surrounded his grave-site with a sea of U.S. and service flags.  “It was such a fitting tribute,” says his father, Mark Reed about the services.  “We have been overwhelmed by the community support and so thankful.  The community has been so special and so enduring to our hearts.  The community support has lifted us up.”  Reed says they have received numerous calls, cards, and letters.

Sgt. Jeffery Reed

Reed was assigned to the 411th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, in Fort Hood, Texas.  He was 15 days away from completing his second 15-month tour in Iraq.  His father said he still hadn’t make up his mind about re-enlisting but he enjoyed his work with the military police and he and his wife figured he would make it a career.  “He was very proud of his job, of his country, and what we stand for,” says Reed of his youngest child.

Reed joined the Army after his high school graduation.  Shortly after, his brother, Sgt. Christopher Reed, 25, also joined, and is now a chemical weapons specialist serving in Afghanistan.

Sgt. Reed is survived by his wife, Ashley Robbins Reed; parents, Mark and Mary Reed; sister, Cynthia Reed; brother, Sgt. Christopher Reed; grandmother, Ruth Russell Manus; uncles, George Reed, T.G. Manus and wife, Margie; Bobby Manus and wife, Jenny; father-in-law, Michael Robbins and wife, Cathy and children; mother-in-law, Patricia Davis and husband, Jeffery, and children; grandmother-in-law, Louise Robbins; and many other relative, friends and fellow soldiers. 

To keep him in their memory, the family has established a scholarship fund in his name, the Jeffrey A. Reed Memorial Scholarship Fund.  “We wanted to keep him in our memory through helping graduating seniors from L.C. Bird who might need a little extra money going to college,” says Mark Reed.  Contributions can be sent to the Jeffrey A. Reed Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 55, Chesterfield, VA  23832.

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