Robert Reynolds of Jones County lost his beloved wife, Gail B. Reynolds, of more than 28 years in November 2020. Her health had been declining since the beginning of 2020. He described her as a compassionate and caring person and because of those qualities, Robert wanted to do something to help others in her memory. He established an annual scholarship at Lenoir Community College through its Foundation, and hopes to encourage others to do the same.

The Gail B. Reynolds annual scholarship will be awarded to a second-year student from Jones County as a priority in either the Practical Nursing or Associate Degree Nursing Program. 

Robert said he knows the importance of nurses to their patients, whether it was just for a brief stay in the hospital or to care for someone at the end of their life.

 “A nurse can make a difference in someone’s life and change a patient’s whole outlook,” he said. “Gail had some wonderful nurses during her hospital stays. I wanted to keep my wife’s memory alive by helping someone in the nursing profession,” he said. “Nursing is a profession where you can get burned out, and I wanted to help others wanting to be in the profession.”

Gail Reynolds was a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. “She was a caring person and a good listener, her husband said. “People talked to her all the time about their problems. She was a beautician and she loved her job.”

Robert said they met at a dance about 30 years ago. “She didn’t think I was her type,” he said fondly. “I guess she got used to me,” he smiled.

Members of Pleasant Hill Christian Church, he said his wife loved to quilt with the ladies of the church. “She looked forward to the Harvest Festival every year. She enjoyed reading all kinds of books, mostly religious ones, making t-shirt quilts, cross stitching and she loved her family.”

What was the secret to their 28-year marriage? “She let me be myself instead of trying to make me into someone else,” he said. 

Robert said he misses her smile and their conversations around the supper table. “We stayed busy during the day, but we always talked at supper. I miss those conversations.”