Deacon Willie Gene 77, departed this life on Tuesday June 6, 2017 at his home in Rains, SC. He was the husband of Lillian Cross Reave and the father of Willie Reaves Jr. and Trey Reaves. You may visit the family at 3213 Rains Loop, Mullins, SC in the Rains Community. Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00pm Saturday June 10, 2017 at the Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Marion. He will be laid to rest in the Florence National Cemetery on Monday June 12, 2017 at 2:00pm.

Willie Gene Reaves was born September 25, 1939 in Marion, South Carolina, the second oldest of three sons born to Arthur and Katherine Legette Reaves. He departed this earthly life on Tuesday June 6, 2017.

Willie Gene attended school in Marion County, South Carolina, graduating in 1957. Upon graduating he moved to Baltimore, Maryland. At the age of 21, he was drafted into the United States Army, and after serving two years, including a tour in Germany, received an honorable discharge. He returned to Baltimore, where he was employed by Western Electric (predecessor to AT&T), when the plant closed, he relocated to Winston Salem, North Carolina, where he worked until retirement.

After losing his father during his youth, Willie Gene became part of a blended family, when his mother married John M. Graves, a widower with six children. To this union four children followed.

Willie Gene was a faithful and dedicated member of New Hope Holiness Church, where he served as a Deacon and member of the adult choir. 

Willie Gene was preceded in death by his parents as well as several siblings; Priestly and James Arthur Reaves, Edith M. Pearson, and from his mother’s second union; James Franklin, Modesta Hawkins and Mary Sue Bethea.

Willie Gene leaves to cherish loving memories of his wife of twenty three years Lillian C. Reaves; two sons William Trey Reaves of the home and Willie Gene Reaves Jr. of Loris SC , two stepdaughters, Cynthia (Tony) Cross-Paige of Charlotte NC and Alfredia C (Barry) Moore of Marion, SC., siblings Edward A. (Celia) Graves of Columbia SC, Donald (Sallie) Graves of Durham NC, Wanda (Edgar) Moore of Elgin, SC., Dorothy K. (John) James , Rena Bell Waiters, Alphonso (Eleanoris) Graves all of Florence, SC and Paul J. (Eleanor) Graves of Patterson, NJ and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.