Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 28, 1995                   TAG: 9509280011
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MARY JO SHANNON SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

AFTER 71 YEARS, COUPLE'S LOVE REMAINS STRONG

Nell, who recently turned 95, had to adjust to living alone in their Garden City home when Camden, who'll be 94 in October, was hospitalized and later moved a nursing home to recover.

"The grandfather clock stopped," Nell explained, "and when he tried to start it, he lost his balance and fell backward. The clock fell on top of him."

The clock, made by one of their sons, suffered no ill effects - not even a broken glass. But Camden broke a bone in his neck.

Despite the separation, Camden, wearing a "halo" to hold his head in position while the bone heals, and Nell celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary Sept. 23 at Berkshire Health Care Center Vinton, where he is recuperating.

The two met at a downtown Roanoke rooming house, but have spent 55 years of their married life in the same little Garden City house where they reared seven children - five boys and two girls.

"One day I saw him walking on the street. I knew he was going to the boarding house, so I said, 'wait and I'll walk with you.' He did, and we sat together and started going out together to movies and riding in his old Ford," Nell recently recalled of their meeting. I saw one like it in Salem not long ago. Wish we'd kept that old Ford - it would be worth somethin' today."

Nell, a young woman from Buena Vista, and Camden, a Floyd County native, were married in 1924 and "went to housekeeping" and rearing a family. Their children - Eugene, Earl, Glenn, Jimmy, Shirley, Owen and Nancy - arrived over a period of 19 years, and Nell spent her time making their clothes and many of their toys and canning food.

Camden worked at the American Viscose plant until it closed. He started the plant's credit union and "bought the accounts and continued it at home, when the plant closed," said Nell. After retiring 21 years ago from Roanoke City Mills, he did taxes for people. He also notarized the first recording contract of Las Vegas entertainer Wayne Newton, who once lived on their street.

The Reeds' children are still close to each other and supportive of each of their parents, even though some of them are retired. They have given Nell and Camden 18 grandchildren, who have in turn produced 24 great-grandchildren.

The Reed children also enjoy reflecting on their lives. There were no vacation trips or out-of-the-ordinary experiences to look back on but their memories involve humorous family incidents. There was the the time Mama, a sister and brother were in the attic and fell through the ceiling.

Then, once Mama locked one of the boys out of the house when he appeared at the door with a snake. They also remember the corn bread catching on fire in the oven of the old coal range, and having to call the volunteer fire department.

Nell remembers that all five of her sons were hooked on making model planes. Sometimes, not knowing the planes were stored beneath the bed, Nell swept them out, breaking the fragile wings. Two of her sons carried their love for airplanes into adulthood.

"Jimmy built two planes. He gives flying lessons and puts on shows with all kinds of stunts. And, Earl bought a plane and learned to fly. I was in his airplane one time. We flew over the lake. It was awful far down there - I was glad to get out of it."

Camden reflecting on those years, said "when times were good, you went out and bought what you wanted and paid for it."

"We spent and saved and fussed at each other and had a good time," he said. "But we didn't criticize each other. I loved her, and I still love her."