Alexander Reese

He fought the good fight. He finished the race. And he kept the faith.

If you met him, you encountered Jesus. If you knew him, you knew without a doubt that he knew Jesus. If you spent time with him, you knew how much he loved Jesus. For Alexander Reese, it was all about Jesus. He loved God, and he loved people. And his life goal was Heaven.

He loved the Word of God and preached the Bible with zeal and unmatched clarity. In his last message from the pulpit, he stated that he preached more at home and through his life than he ever did from a stage or platform. Those who had the privilege to know him, know how true that statement was. Therefore, it is no surprise that on September 27, 2021 when he had the opportunity to leave Marion General Hospital and the trials and chaos of life on earth, he gladly chose to embrace the rewards of Heaven and go be with his Lord and Savior he had served from childhood.

No doubt, that was an extremely loud day in Heaven! Alex was a worshipper, a song writer, a musician. When he wasn’t preaching, he was playing music, talking about music, and intent on bringing the sounds of Heaven to earth. He was self-taught and had an amazing ear. He was an entrepreneur who started his own business he named Agape Sounds. He was also the owner of Sounds of Praise for several years. In his earlier years, he owned a babysitting service. His life was one of diverse ministry to everyone he came in contact with. Alex maintained a joyful heart at all times and his boisterous laughter was good medicine to all he ministered to.

Alexander was born on February 18, 1953 to the late Charles Henry Reese II and Everlena (Sims) Reese. He graduated from Marion Harding High School and served in the United States Navy as a Signalman. A graduate from Mansfield Business College in 1978, he earned an Associate’s Degree in Higher Accounting. His education served him well in the many tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll service positions he held prior to launching his own First Choice Tax Service. He held additional positions throughout the years including those at Marion General Hospital, Woodside Village in Galion, BF Goodrich, and Purex.

When he found Shirlene Lewis, he found a wife and a good thing according to scripture. Alex and Shirlene married on September 15, 1973 and in this union had two children—daughter, Alisha Paxton and son, Jeryn Reese. Together they enjoyed 48 years of marriage and created many memories together. Also, left behind to continue to celebrate Alex’s life and those many cherished memories are also his two sisters Leila A. Omene of Marion, OH, Kathleen Y. Hairston of Marion, OH, and six brothers, Tommy T. (Cyndi) Reese, Leslie A. Reese, Willie Jones, Lucius Jones, Luther Jones all of Marion, OH, and Calvin G. (Sheila) Reese of Atlanta, GA. Also, five grandchildren, Keerah Paxton and Devon Paxton of Marion, OH, Alana (Devin) Cole of Orlando, FL, and Jaylah and Jayvion Reese of Tifton, GA, and eight great-grandchildren. The family also wishes to acknowledge special sister-in-law Gail Lewis-Kelley of Novi, MI and Rhonda Breit of Crestline, OH, his special friend who he called his sister and Godmother to his grandchildren. His presence as a member and Praise and Worship Leader will be sorely missed by his Genesis church family in Marion, OH. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and family will also fondly remember Alex.

Alex was preceded in death by five brothers Robert Sims, Charles H. Reese III, George F Reese, William P. Reese, and Rodlin D. Reese, and two sisters Yvonda A. Reese and Charlene R. Reese.

Family and friends will gather to remember and share at Edwards Funeral Service, Hughes-Allen Chapel, 318 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Marion, OH, where calling hours will be held Friday, October 8, from 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm. A celebration of life will also be held at Edwards Funeral Service, Hughes-Allen Chapel, on Saturday, October 9, beginning at 9am. Pastor Keith Irey will be officiating. Interment will be at Marion Cemetery. All are welcome to join in fellowship immediately following services at Genesis, 921 Woodrow Avenue, Marion, OH.

Masks will be required.