Historical March 1995 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
This article is for all the residents of Skinker DeBaliviere and Washington Heights and the Parkview area.
I hope all of you remember the lovely lady in the picture.
Her name is Blanche Reel.
She is a resident of the Washington Heights area. Blanche is a member of St. John’s Methodist Church on Washington Avenue at Union.
I met Blanche in 1967 when I moved into the neighborhood.
She made my family and me welcome to the area, and as I began to attend the neighborhood meetings, Blanche and I became a team, working together on many projects. Blanche was involved in the Washington Heights neighborhood organization, the Skinker DeBaliviere/Rosedale organization, Meals on Wheels, the Women’s Crusade Against Crime, the 7th Police District Community Relations Organization, as well as many church activities.
She was always a pleasant person and always willing to help her fellow man. Of course, her hair now is white and beautiful and she wears glasses..
In December 1993; Blanche’s husband, Alton Reel, died.
She and her son then lived in her home together.
I discovered that her son was too ill to do many things around the house that Blanche was used to having to do on her own. So, one of her good neighbors, Mrs. Lovie Rogers, and I began to look in on Blanche and her son and often took them meals.
We also used to visit with her and her son and go to the store and shop for them.
In December 1994, her son passed away. Blanche is 87 years old now and the day after her son was buried she became a resident of the Bethesda Dilworth Memorial Home at 9645 Big Bend Road, 63122. Many people worked with Blanche and loved her very much.
I am asking that if any of our residents can find the time, please drop her a note and let her know you are from the neighborhood.
She loves to read her mail!
She misses her home–and this is the least I can do for such a dear friend.
Original photograph caption
Blanche Reel. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, March 1995.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1995_03.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
