Graeme Reeve

Graeme Reeve died on Tuesday, December 20, at home.  He is preceded in death by his grandfathers, Clayton Reeve and David Ashley, and by his great aunt, Delores Schroeder.  He is survived by his mother, Dyer Reeve, and her husband, David Bertling; by his father, Jonathan Reeve, Jonathan’s fiancée, Amylane Duncan, and her children, Jonah Harwood, Spencer Harwood, and Erin Yaden; and by his grandmothers, Gail Reeve and Ann Rodgers Ashley. Other family members and godparents who survive Graeme include the Ashleys, the Kianis, the Lavelles, the Palmers, the Schroeders, and the Thomases.

Graeme was born in Nashville, TN, on November 21, 2002.  He attended St. Bernard Academy, Father Ryan High School, and Tennessee Technological University, where he majored in electrical engineering.  Graeme showed gifts in both the humanities and the sciences, but his accomplishments were not confined to the classroom.  He enjoyed guitar lessons and basketball at St. Bernard, and membership in the Dungeons and Dragons Club at Father Ryan.  Perhaps his greatest joy in school, however, was the camaraderie and fellowship he found as a member of the tech team supporting the Purple Masque Players, Father Ryan’s theatrical performance group.  Graeme assisted with lighting for productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and High School Musical, and the friendships he formed with cast and crew alike were among the most meaningful of his life.

To borrow a phrase from Gerard Manley Hopkins, Graeme’s diverse interests reflected the pied beauty of his personality.  High spirits and unrestrained laughter were perhaps his most defining traits, and he delighted in comedy of all forms, especially satires of B movies from the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000.  Live music was another passion, originating in childhood visits with his grandparents to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.  He attended dozens of concerts in venues all over Nashville and regularly wore t-shirts sporting the logos of his favorite musical artists.  As Graeme grew older, he became fascinated with elements of Japanese popular culture, particularly animated films and comic books.  His backpack and bookshelves overflowed with examples of each.

Graeme was no stranger to adversity.  Several health issues touched his early childhood, and a seizure disorder materializing in adolescence never went away.  He confronted each of these challenges with a grace and strength beyond his years and displayed a deep compassion for all who struggle.  In spite of hardship, Graeme’s zest for life’s pleasures never dimmed.  Travel was an activity he cherished, with a school trip to New York occupying a special place in his heart.  He loved visits to his godparents’ lake house, where he whiled away the time with kneeboarding, fireworks, and golf cart rides.  Indian food was his favorite cuisine, and he rarely celebrated a birthday without it.  Graeme will be remembered for his wry wit and loving heart.

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 30, from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Saint David’s Episcopal Church, 6501 Pennywell Drive, Nashville, TN 37205.  A memorial service will follow.  Burial will take place at 12:30 p.m. that day at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens, 9090 TN-100, Nashville, TN 37221. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Graeme’s name may be made to the Purple Masque Players at Father Ryan High School via the webpage at

https://fatherryan.myschoolapp.com/page/support-father-ryan/online-giving/make-a-memorial-gift?siteId=939&ssl=1.