Eugene "Gene" Reed

Eugene "Gene" Reed, Jr., 87, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, husband of Johnnie Speed Reed passed away at Roper Hospital on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. His Funeral Service will be held Sunday, March 16, 2025, in the J. Henry Stuhr Inc., Mount Pleasant Chapel, 1494 Mathis Ferry Road at 5:00 pm. The family will receive friends an hour before the service.

Gene was born September 16, 1937, in the small town of Dyersburg, Tennessee about 80 miles northeast of Memphis. He got his first job at the age of 8 washing dishes. A few years later, he found his way into the car business, washing cars at a local gas station. Gene went on to attend Memphis State where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1963. Two days after graduating, he married his wife Johnnie and they moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Gene eventually got a job working for Chrysler Automotive. He stayed with the company for 10 years, starting as a parts representative and eventually being promoted to dealer relations.

In the fall of 1975, Gene realized his dream of owning his own dealership. With the help of a special Chrysler program for exceptional employees, he was able to borrow the money to purchase his first dealership: a Dodge franchise in Spartanburg, SC. He knew it was a risk to leave a stable job with a large company. It paid off, though -- that first month, Gene’s store sold 26 new cars and 24 used cars for a profit of $6,300. He thought he was in heaven!

Over the next several years, he regularly worked 100 hours a week and was able to pay off Chrysler after only 17 months. Then, in 1981, Gene purchased his first dealership in Charleston: Gene Reed Chevrolet on Dorchester Road. During his career, Gene has successfully owned and operated Chrysler, Chevrolet, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Toyota, Lexus, Range Rover, Porsche, Honda, Jaguar and Mercedes franchises. Through all his years in business, Gene’s number one concern was putting the customer first.

Even with all his business success, Gene kept his family close. His wife Johnnie has a daughter from a previous marriage, Debbie, whom Gene considers to be his own. He has twin grandsons who have grown up to be successful in their respective fields -- one in the car business and the other in social work. His nephew, Robert Reed, started as Gene did, washing cars; he is now the Vice President of Gene Reed Enterprises. When asked about his uncle, Robert said “I’ve always looked up to him, in many ways he is like a second father to me. He has been such a positive influence in so many people’s lives, mine included.”

Through all his success in his personal and business life, Gene has always made giving back to the community a priority. After Hurricane Hugo ravaged the Charleston area, he provided the initial donation to start a fund for families without insurance. He is a Tocqueville Society Member with the United Way. He has funded scholarships at both the College of Charleston and Trident Technical College. He donated the funds to the American Cancer Society needed to build the Gene Reed Hope Lodge which provides free housing for cancer patients who travel to the Charleston area for treatment. Recently, Gene’s donations to the MUSC Children’s Hospital, the Gaillard and Darkness to Light have been substantial. Gene was awarded The Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor by the Governor.

He is survived by his wife Johnnie Reed; daughter, Deborah Lallier (Mike); two brothers, Mike Reed (Deborah) and Thomas Reed (Kimberly); grandchildren, Cory Lallier (Jessica), Cody Lallier (Patrick); nephew Robert Reed (Sarah); nieces, Colleen Reed, Charlesy Roman (Justin); and great grandchildren, Bryant Lallier, Bailey Lallier, Harrison Lallier and Margaret Lallier.

Memorials may be made to MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital, please make check payable to "MUSC Foundation" 18 Bee St., MSC 450, Charleston, SC 29425.

A memorial message may be sent to the family on our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.