Richard Reed Watts

Richard Reed Watts, 53, of Burke, Virginia, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family on August 26, 2025, after living with cancer for more than 12 years. Reed is survived by his beloved wife of 23 years, Mary Lee Sell Watts, his precious daughters, Ellie and Sarah Reed Watts, who were the center of his world and greatest source of his pride and joy, his mother and stepfather, Mimi and Rick Broome of Sumter, SC, his father, Richard Oscar Watts (Betsy) of Fripp Island, SC, and his rambunctious dog, Snoopy. He is now reunited in heaven with his older brother, William Clement “Chad” Watts, who passed away in 1997.

Born March 26, 1972, in Sumter, SC, Reed was raised in Irmo, SC, where he graduated from Irmo High School in 1990 and played on the championship varsity soccer team. An intellectually curious, creative, well-read lifelong learner, he graduated from Wofford College in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies with honors. He also held Masters degrees in both international relations and public administration from the London School of Economics and George Mason University, respectively. He began his career as an educator, teaching in Boston MA, Cali, Colombia, South America, and then Columbia, SC, before moving to Washington, DC to work as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill. In 2004, Reed deployed as a Civilian with the U.S. Department of State to Baghdad, Iraq, where he worked to establish the Commission on Public Integrity.

Upon returning from overseas, Reed channeled his talent for designing and building furniture, woodworking, and home renovation into a small business, Cabinet Artisans, which he ran for several years before settling into the job he cherished most, being a stay-at-home father to Ellie and Sarah Reed. He was happiest when he was watching his girls play soccer, walking on the beach with his family looking for sharks’ teeth and ghost crabs, or cheering on the Clemson Tigers football team. A modern-day renaissance man, he was as comfortable talking about the Greek classics as he was the NCAA football rankings.

At the time of his death, Reed was preparing to return to the classroom after several years of substitute teaching in Fairfax County Public Schools and securing his Virginia teaching certificate.

A man of strong faith, Reed was an active member of Messiah United Methodist Church in Springfield, VA for the past 13 years, where he worshipped with his family.

In addition to his wife, children and parents, Reed is survived by his step-sister, Elise Stringer (Jeffrey) and nephews Tyndall and Jones Stringer of Greer, SC; brother and sister-in-law Scott and Nancy Sell and nieces and nephews Josh, William, Sadie Beth and Haynes Sell of Sylvania, GA; and a host of beloved uncles, aunts, cousins and friends, near and far.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, August 30, at 10 am at Messiah United Methodist Church, 6215 Rolling Rd, Springfield, VA led by Rev. Pia Diggs and Rev. Matt Benton.

A Graveside service will be held at Sumter Cemetery on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.

The family would like to thank the oncology and neurosurgery teams at Johns Hopkins Medical Center for the world-class care he received these past few months, and thank Vita Care Home Health and Goodwin Hospice Care for their compassionate care of Reed during the last days of his life.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions in his memory be made to Messiah United Methodist Church or the Gwendolyn Sell Sorrell Study Abroad Scholarship at the Middle Georgia State University Foundation.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13

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