The Longstreet Society and
The Historic Piedmont Hotel
827 Maple Street . Gainesville GA 30501
Open Wednesday through Saturday 10 to 4
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 191 . Gainesville GA . 30503 . 770-539-9005
Minor Garland Reynolds, Jr.
was born a son of this land
on August 18, 1935, and
died a man of the world
on September 26, 2024.
A memorial service will be held for Mr. Reynolds on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024 at 1:00 at Grace Episcopal Church.
As a boy, Mr. Reynolds visited his grandfather on the farm their family has owned and run in Hall County, Georgia, since the early 1800s. He recalled the day when, at six years old, he and his father visited his grandfather. All three listened to the radio one Sunday when a voice interrupted the regular programming to announce that Japanese forces had bombed Pearl Harbor. Mr. Reynolds's mother's family hailed from North Carolina, and his grandmother taught him to fish on the Little Tennessee River near her brother's farm in Otto. He slept in the loft on a featherbed alongside his brother and fetched food from the spring house when asked.
From an early age, Mr. Reynolds involved himself in his hometown of Gainesville, Georgia. At ten years of age, he sold papers on the square in downtown Gainesville and rode his bike to deliver them to the residents living along historic Green Street. He joined the Boy Scouts and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. For the whole of his life, he sincerely appreciated the lessons scouting instilled, and he became a scout leader as an adult to share the values that shaped him with the next generation.
Mr. Reynolds served in the Georgia Air National Guard while studying at Georgia Tech, earning bachelor's degrees in science and architecture. He passionately pursued his architectural vocation as an artist whose medium happened to be bricks, timbers, and steel beams. He designed structures across the Southeast with life and personality. To best realize his clients' visions, he traveled the world, researching symbolism, ferreting out sources for the best materials, and studying ancient structures. He examined the pyramids in Egypt, visited one of the oldest marble quarries in Israel, researched Palladian architecture in Italy, and walked the beaches of Normandy. His work earned the attention and respect of his peers. He became a member of the College Of Fellows of the American Institute Of Architects, serving at various times as the president of the Atlanta chapter and the chairman of the National AIA Committee on Urban Assistance.
People fascinated Mr. Reynolds, and he spent more time hearing his clients' stories than most architects and immersing himself in the spirit of whole communities. His resulting buildings capture the essence of the people they serve, providing spaces for performance, worship, transit, rest, and education, all while weaving images and echoes of past, present, and future into their framework. His designs have left an indelible mark on Georgia and beyond. Hikers in Tallulah Gorge learn about the land in Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center and Theater of his design, while other hikers make his Len Foote Hike Inn their destination for a weekend getaway. Students at Reinhardt University, Brenau University, and Piedmont College all claim his spaces as their own in their quest for higher learning. Campers at Elachee Nature Center and Camp Glisson run and play, finding a home away from home in buildings of his imagination. Community members recognized his immense contributions by naming him Gainesville Rotary Man of the Year in 2015 and Reinhardt University conferred on him an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.
Perhaps his favorite projects were the churches and chapels he designed. Every Sunday, thousands of people across the Southeast gather to praise God in spaces Mr. Reynolds envisioned. He listened to the congregations and then to the movement of the Spirit as he created sacred spaces where worshippers gather to meet the divine.
Mr. Reynolds anchored his passion for spaces in his deep respect for history and worked to see that history honored and preserved. He served in various roles on boards, including those of the Funk Heritage Center at Reinhardt University, the Byron Herbert Reece Society, Friends of Healen's-Head's Mill, the Grant Monument Association, and founded the Longstreet Society. He particularly respected the longstanding and deep connection between General James Longstreet and President Ulysses S. Grant. He marveled how the two men became friends at West Point before the Civil War and remained so through the ravages of the war and the rebuilding of the country after it.
Famous Georgia poet Byron Herbert Reece wrote of his own legacy:
From chips and shards, in idle times,
I made these stories, shaped these rhymes;
May they engage some friendly tongue
When I am past the reach of song.
-Epigraph for Bow Down in Jericho [Dutton, 1950]
Minor Garland Reynolds, Jr. now belongs to the place "past the reach of song." However, his impact on the community will continue to be felt for decades, perhaps centuries, as Georgians across the state will continue to enjoy the fruits of his passion and labor.
Mr. Reynolds was preceded in death by his parents, Minor Garland "Butch" Reynolds Sr., and Julia Mae Reynolds, as well as his brother Terry Reynolds and his son Matthew Reynolds. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Reynolds; daughters Julia King and O'Neil Anderson; sons, Reid Reynolds and Neil Reynolds; grandchildren Katherine Yee, Thomas King, Maya Supnik, and Asher Supnik; as well as three great-grandchildren: Theo Yee, Ellie Yee, and Isaac King. Other surviving relatives include his sister Jane Reynolds Hemmer and her husband John Hemmer; sister-in-law Evelyn Reynolds; nephew Lee Hemmer; nieces Dawn Rivas, Wendy Ernest, and Mary Hemmer; and many great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.
The void left by his passing is a testament to his impact on the lives of many. His legacy will continue to echo throughout every corridor, room, and balcony he designed, a reminder of his enduring influence. Mr. Reynolds's projects are too great to number, so please visit his website to fully understand the scope of his work, though even that list isn't exhaustive: http://garlandreynoldsarchitect.com/projlist.htm
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks that donations be made to Grace Episcopal Church in Gainesville, GA, or Glisson Camp and Retreat Center in Dahlonega, GA.
May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Memorial Park Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. 2030 Memorial Park Rd. Gainesville, Ga 30504
Memorial Service Thursday October 3, 2024 1:00 PM
Grace Episcopal Church
Peter Gayton Claymore
passed away at the age of 80
in his home in Gainesville, Georgia,
the morning of September 3, 2024,
after a long illness.
He was a native of Washington D.C.,
born on February 12, 1944, to Wesley and Phyllis Claymore. A graduate of Anacostia High School class of 1961, he entered the Naval ROTC program and enrolled at The University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA, to study history. The morning of June 6, 1965, he married Carla McNair at the Albemarle County, VA, courthouse and graduated from UVA later that day. The following day he was deployed with the Navy where he served for 10 years, gaining the rank of Lieutenant. Peter served on different ships in areas all over the world. In 1975, four years after the birth of his son, he resigned from the Navy and he and his family relocated from Long Island, New York, to Culpeper, Virginia, to be near his mother who was living there at that time. In 1976, Peter and family settled in the DC Metro area, living in Arlington and then Fairfax, Virginia, where he worked for multiple private defense contracting firms. He also continued his education, earning Master's degrees from Southeastern University and George Mason University.
An enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, he was a Hunkpapa Lakota and was proud to be of the same band as Sitting Bull. He regularly visited the reservation and donated educational materials to the tribe.
Upon retirement, Peter and Carla moved to Gainesville, Georgia, to be near his son and family to watch his grandchildren grow. He was proud to see them become capable, talented and successful young people. In Gainesville, he was active in social, academic and creative activities. He remained a board member of the DC Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, taught classes at the local college, and worked for H&R Block during tax season. He enjoyed travel, reading, politics, stamp collecting, model trains, and learning as long as he was able.
Peter is preceded in death by Carla, his wife of 53 years, who passed away in 2018. He is survived by his son Carl Craig Claymore; granddaughter, Sophia Rene Claymore; grandson Connor James Claymore; and sister Shirley Marie Claymore and family.
Peter was cremated and will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, where Carla's cremated remains have been stored in preparation for a joint interment. A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, October 12 at 11:00 AM in the Chapel of Little & Davenport Funeral Home in Gainesville, Georgia. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in Peter's memory to the National Railway Historical Society. https://nrhs.com/ or to the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia
https://humanesocietyofnortheastgeorgia.org/ in honor of his late rescue poodle, Pepper.
Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com.
Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Georgia 30501 is in charge of arrangements.
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volunteer
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WHO WAS JAMES LONGSTREET?
- Major United States Army
- Lt. Gen. Confederate Army
- Businessman
- Surveyor of Customs
- Major Gen LA State Militia
- Minister to Turkey
- Postmaster Gainesville
- United States Marshall
- Commissioner of Railroads
- Author
The Longstreet Society is dedicated to the study and celebration
of the life of
Lt. General James Longstreet, CSA
and especially his skill and valor as a soldier
and as commander of the famous old
First Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia;
his fervent dedication to the
restoration of the American Union;
his love of his
Southern homeland;
his advocacy for the ideals of peace and understanding
among all peoples and his belief
in the brotherhood of man.
We are a 100% volunteer run and staffed organization and are funded entirely by membership fees and donations. Please join. Please donate.
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