Taylor Funeral Home

Obituaries
Phyllis Grace Pear Reichman
Date of Death or Service Jun 4, 2021
Phyllis Grace Pear Reichman
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 Remembering Momma

 

Our Momma, Phyllis Grace Pear Reichman, passed away at Alive Hospice in Nashville during the wee hours of June 2, 2021 during her ninety-ninth year on earth. She is survived by her three children, Rick (Jeannie), Sydney, and Julie (Mark); her grandchildren, Jinna (Matt), and Valerie Bryn (Nick), and a great-grandchild (her namesake) Abigail Grace. She also has a surviving niece and several nephews. A special sister-in-law, Marcia Pear, passed away just hours after Mom. Mom was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Sidney C. Reichman, parents, Moe and Birdie Pear, a brother, Charles Pear, a sister, Elaine Pear Rothberg, and nephews, Johnnie and Nicholas Rothberg, and all of her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. Mom endured the loss of her husband and many dear friends early in life (including Joanne, Jean, Bobbie, and later, Doris). Numerous others went before her but she still managed to maintain a passion for life and appreciation of each moment. She was affectionately dubbed, “the comeback kid”.
Born in New York, she moved south as a baby and spent most of her formative years in Nashville. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, she distinguished herself by becoming the first woman and the first freshman to win the Founder’s Medal in Oratory--this, in spite of a case of laryngitis the night of the competition.
After college and acting school in New York, she followed her passion as actress, producer, and director in the Nashville Community Theatre scene and served many years as the president of Theatre Nashville.  In 1966, she presided over the production of the musical, Lost in the Stars, with its primarily African American cast and a chorus consisting of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. To understand how this reflected Momma’s world view, you would have to appreciate the trajectory of the Civil Rights Movement in Nashville at that time, and the chutzpah it took to present this outstanding and timely musical at such an unlikely place and moment in history. Though we thought it remarkable, she thought of it as just an extraordinary show with an extraordinary cast that needed to be produced, at that time and at that place. She took such delight in meeting with Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte who came to celebrate   the theatre’s production, cast, and crew.

In later years, Momma took up duplicate bridge, competitively, and was active in the Vanderbilt Bridge Club (Rookie of the Year and Life Master). She cherished her friendship with Michael Lawrence, world-renowned bridge guru, and was delighted when he and his wife moved to Nashville.  Momma traveled the world with bridge groups and other friends and loved to learn new things. Until recently, she was an avid reader.

Momma followed politics with great interest and managed somehow to vote in the past year’s election. It gratified her in her final year to know that sanity and compassion had returned to the White House.  

In these last few years, she lived with her daughter, my sister, Sydney, who spoiled her with home-grown organic food, neck rubs, foot massages, and her favorite snacks...even the unhealthy ones.  Numerous trips to the doctors, emergency room visits, 2nd opinions, 24/7 love and caregiving were ongoing. Mom would also want to express gratitude to her caregiver, LeAnn, who visited several times a week, son Rick, who was always on call, and to friends and family (some of whom are here today) who were like her ‘other daughters’. They graced her with love & kindness over the years and in these final days. Staff at Alive Hospice in Nashville were especially skilled and compassionate to Momma and the family at the end. Those desiring to remember her could support this extraordinary Nashville organization that demonstrated to us what competent, compassionate care really looks like  (

https://www.alivehospice.org/donate).  ‘

 We would like also to recognize both Mitzy from The Temple (where Momma celebrated her confirmation) and to Sherrod Kimmins, funeral director, for their compassion, support, and guidance, given generously on very short notice.

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