Christine Reynolds, who lived in Paris, was the first woman ever to hold a Tennessee cabinet post. She was commissioner of public welfare during former Gov. Frank Clement’s first two terms, from 1953-1959. In this position, she worked diligently for programs to help abused and underprivileged children by promoting excellent foster homes and better adoption laws. She changed the lives of thousands of children who had had no voice. Passionate about her position and her cause, she worked with the legislature to rewrite the welfare laws, benefiting the old and the mentally ill as well as children. Mrs. Reynolds’ mother, Sula Tatum Sheeley, was married to former Gov. Jim Nance McCord. Herman and Christine Reynolds died on the same day in 1970, while on vacation in the Florida Keys. Mrs. Reynolds was only 59 years old. On her resignation, employees of her department contributed to a fund to plant mimosa trees along the Highway 79 toward Kentucky Lake in her honor. (Webmaster's note: I recall this as a long and very attractive stand of trees along each side of the highway. In an article several years ago, the late Jim 'Spider' Dumas stated the trees were removed when the highway was expanded to 4 lanes.) The Reynoldses had no children. Mrs. Reynolds was a 1926 graduate of Grove High School.

Reprinted  from
Tennessee Trailings
By  STEPHANIE  TAYLOE

The Paris Post-Intelligencer
Paris, Tennessee
December 8, 2006 Edition ~ USED  BY  PERMISSION

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