HARTFORD, Conn. –

Neola Argual (Parrish) Reese, 97, beloved wife of the late Rev. James Foster Reese, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 7, 2024, at home in West Hartford, Conn. She was born in Birmingham, AL, the daughter of the late Pleasant James Parrish and Eudora Darthular (Williams) Parrish. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisville Municipal College.

Neola was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt as well as an outstanding educator, Presbyterian church leader, and advocate for women and civil rights. In her 45-year teaching career she taught in Selma and Camden AL, Knoxville, TN, Charlotte, NC, and Cherry Hill, NJ before retiring in 1996. She and her husband moved to West Hartford in 2019.

Neola is survived by her daughter, Mildred R. McNeill (Thomas) of Avon, her sons, James L. Reese (Sonali) of Lewiston, ME, Foster E. Reese (fiancée Patricia Guarantano) of New Milford; six grandchildren, Ian T. McNeill (Rochelle) of Avon, Shara L. Hennessy-McNeill (Susie) of Haymarket, VA, Jared McNeill of Spoleto, Italy, Kia J. McNeill (Jonathan Gendron) of Rehoboth, MA, James Ishan and Ayanthi Reese of Lewiston, ME; five great-grandchildren, Camryn Telford and Reese McNeill of Avon, Elijah and Layla Maglich of Haymarket, VA, and Jordan Gendron of New Bedford, MA. She also is survived by a niece Barbara F. Lipscomb and great-niece Courtney Walker of Lawrenceville, GA.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, June 22, 2024, from 10 – 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 136 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106. A funeral service will follow beginning at 11 a.m. Join the service on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84587237843?pwd=KkgZlHYsbOyryXB38kSBdVeEWMYNlW.1

Burial will be private at the convenience of the family.

For a complete obituary, condolences, directions, or donations in lieu of flowers info, visit http://www.carmonfuneralhome.com.

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