On December 3, 2024, Jennifer’s beautiful spirit peacefully left her earthly body with her mother and her sister by her side. She was 58.

Born on January 24, 1966 on the island of Adak, Alaska, she had a generous heart and was a lifelong advocate for human and animal rights. Growing up in Charlottesville, VA, she co-founded the local chapter of NA while she was still in high school. She lived by the NA principles for the rest of her life. She moved to Richmond, VA, graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University and became a social worker. Despite being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at age 33, she was active rescuing dogs, volunteering for the Richmond Aids Ministry, completing MS walk-a-thons, spaying and neutering an entire colony of feral cats in Oregon Hill, supporting local artists and making panels for the National Aids Quilt, among other efforts to support human, animal and environmental causes about which she was passionate. After decades in Richmond, she and her then husband moved to Jackson, WY to start an alpaca farm as a new adventure. After her MS progressed and she discovered she had diabetes, she moved back to Charlottesville where she continued to support charities, attend her home group meetings and foster dogs non-stop. An avid reader, she often read a book a day. Even after receiving a stage 4 cancer diagnosis in October 2024, Jennifer’s sense of humor and grace remained until her last day.

She is survived by her mother, Priscilla Reed of Charlottesville, and her sister, Susan Reed, and brother-in-law, Robert Walz, of Charles City, VA. She was preceded in death by her father, Andrew Reed, of Winston-Salem, NC. Per her final wishes, she will be cremated and scattered at the beach with no formal funeral. To make a donation in Jennifer’s honor, please consider Dogs Deserve Better Blue Ridge (dogsdeservebetter.org) or the Human Rights Campaign (hrc.org).

To share your condolences, visit Hill and Wood Funeral Service.  While you are there please take a look at the Memorial Video we have created to celebrate her life.