Compiled by Speakin’ Out News (courtesy photo)
Longtime Huntsville government watchdog and community activist Jackie Reed passed away Sunday, her family confirmed on her campaign Facebook page.
Reed ran for mayor nine times against Mayor Tommy Battle and ran for Bill Kling’s District 4 seat in alternate years since 1988. She was a candidate again for Kling’s seat on the council this year.
Mr. William D. Smothers, the publisher of Speakin’ Out News, said, “My deepest condolences go out to the family and the community of Huntsville for the passing of Ms. Jackie Reed. Reed was a columnist for Speakin’ Out News for over 25 years and served Huntsville as a community activist and a dear friend to our family.
She was an advocate to the community for reading Speakin’ Out News. I will deeply miss my friend and columnist.”
Reed went to school at Tennessee Tech University and worked for more than 25 years in the aerospace industry. She owned a dress shop called Debra’s Clothes-line and was a real estate broker. Reed also had her radio talk show and wrote columns for Speakin’ Out News.
Mr. Smothers reflected on how Mrs. Reed would give Mayor Battle and City Councilman Bill Kling ‘pure hell’ and afterward would end her comments by saying, “I love you.”
In her last and final article published in Speakin’ Out News, Mrs. Reed wrote, “It is hard for me to quit discussing politics as there are so many things changing. Who is making all these changes and poor decisions? I hope the next President and administration can work all this out and get this country back as good as it was?”
“Mom loved the City of Huntsville and all the People,” her family said on her Facebook page. “She was a loving, caring person that lived on principle and did the right thing.” Her family said they knew Reed was with God “and Heaven has gained a very special lady.”
