Obituary of Linda Reaves

Linda Adele Reaves

Linda Adele Reaves transitioned to her heavenly home on Saturday evening December 16, 2023.   The second of four daughters, Linda, was born on February 9, 1954, to the late John H. Reaves, Jr. and El’Dora Whidby Reaves in Orange, New Jersey. She was an inquisitive, precocious child, educated in the public schools of Orange, New Jersey, and Newark, New Jersey. Linda was a proud graduate of Weequahic High School and attended Rutgers University – Livingston College majoring in Psychology.

She was selected for a variety of highly competitive educational programs throughout her life including UPWARD BOUND and an undergraduate internship at Bronx Psychiatric Hospital in New York. Eventually, Linda accepted a position at Shearson Lehman Brothers, rising to an Assistant Vice President. After leaving Wall Street, she spent several years working at the renowned Symphony Hall in Newark, New Jersey.  Linda loved photography, genealogy, Black history, and many genres of music. She frequently attended local concerts supporting local artists and venues. In addition, she was involved in theater and acting doing voice-overs cast as an extra in several movies and TV shows.  Due to declining health, Linda relocated to Alexandria, Virginia in 2018.

Linda absolutely loved her family and friends. She had a special relationship with her nieces and nephews and even “adopted” friends of her nieces and nephews along the way sending care packages to them while they were in college.

As a young woman, Linda gave her life to the Lord and continued to worship the Lord for the remainder of her life. This was evident in her loving, caring spirit, and her willingness to share whatever she had with family, friends, and complete strangers. Though she did not unite with Mount Olive Baptist Church, it became her church home in Virginia once she relocated. Linda looked forward to worship service and meeting and greeting its members and visitors with a smile, handshake, and a hug.

Linda was predeceased by her parents, John H. Reaves, Jr. and El’Dora Whidby Reaves, her sister, Gloria Anita Reaves Tarver, and her nephew, Benjamin A. Tarver, Jr. Left to celebrate her life are her sister and brother-in-law, Lenor and Charles Reese, her sister, Francine A. Covington, her nephews, Jason L. Reese, and Everette J. Covington, her nieces, Jennifer N. Reese and Adrienne E. Tarver, and five great-nephews, two great-nieces, an aunt, Elaine Caldwell, brother-in-law Benjamin A. Tarver, god-daughter Asia Jackson, numerous cousins, other relatives and many life-long friends.