Regina Reese Symons, beloved wife, mother, nana, and friend, passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 7, 2026, at the age of 89 after an extended illness.
Regina was born on June 19, 1936, in Tupelo, Mississippi. After graduating from high school, she moved to Memphis, where she worked as a receptionist at Sun Studio. Those years gave her a front-row seat to a remarkable moment in music history, and she cherished the opportunity to interact with many of music’s legends. She was even recruited to lend her sweet Southern drawl to a little-known song by Ernie Barton titled “Shut Your Mouth.”
Though she enjoyed life in the big city, Regina was determined to continue her education. She moved to Oxford, Mississippi, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education in 1968 and her Master of Arts degree in English in 1969 from Ole Miss.
In her younger years, Regina loved to dance, spent many hours at the piano, and enjoyed painting. She was fun-loving and always willing to try something new.
It was in Oxford that Regina met the love of her life, Joe. They married in 1970, welcomed their daughter, Susan, in 1972, and celebrated 55 years of marriage this past September. Regina devoted many years to teaching English—first at Hinds Junior College in Raymond and later at Oxford Middle School—before retiring in 1997. She cared deeply about helping her students grow and took pride in inspiring a love of reading and writing.
In retirement, Regina and Joe found great joy in traveling the world together, working in their beautiful yard, and watching the many birds and other wildlife that visit it daily.
Regina was overjoyed to become a Nana in 2005 and again in 2006. Her grandsons were the light of her life, and she was a patient, playful, and deeply devoted grandmother who loved them wholeheartedly.
Regina was truly the heart of her family. Her gentle spirit, cheerful disposition, sweet voice, warm smile, wonderful sense of humor, and natural graciousness left a lasting impression on all who knew her. Her kindness was loving and sincere, freely given, and deeply felt by those around her. She loved generously, and she was loved just as deeply in return. She will be profoundly missed.
She is survived by her loving husband, Joe Symons; her daughter, Susan May (Robert); and her grandsons, Ethan and Truman May. She was preceded in death by her mother, Vonnie Cooper.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Oxford Health and Rehab and Arden Hospice for the skilled, compassionate care and kindness shown to Regina and her family over the past several months. They are also grateful for the love, prayers, and support provided by the clergy of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. The family appreciates the many friends whose kindness, encouragement, and presence have been a source of great comfort to Regina and her family.
A funeral service will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on January 24 at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will follow in the church atrium until noon.
Memorials may be made to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church or to the Oxford Animal Resource Center.
