Michael “Mike” Jeff Reynolds, 76, left this Earth for Heaven on March 29, 2023, after a long battle with Parkinson’s.

A native Mobilian, Mike reveled in all thing’s family, work, traveling the USA by station wagon, boating and Jimmy Buffet…in that order. If Mike was not at the office, he could be found waterskiing with his family on the Jourdan River, in a speedboat or kayak, or jumping on the trampoline and playing ping pong with his kids.  It’s been said that Mike had more energy and stamina than his own children.  He instructed his grandchildren in history and fun facts through a game affectionately called “For a quarter, for a quarter, for a quarter!”

Mike would frequently say “you’re a poet and don’t know it” when a rhyme was made in conversation.  He had an ear and a heart for poetry, he wrote volumes on yellow legal pads and envelopes, or whatever paper he could find. If you ever needed a baseball, football or basketball statistic disputed, even reaching far back in time, he was usually the man to set it straight for you. He was also known to frequently quote the great Yogi Berra.

Mike was a leader in the office and at home. He enjoyed a successful career as a CPA and Actuary in Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.  One fine day in 1960, he led himself down Hilton Drive on bicycle and found the love of his life, Cheryl Jean Freeman. He affectionately called her “the beauty queen.” They married four years later and began a family as he completed undergraduate and graduate degrees in management and labor relations at the University of South Alabama and the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. Cheryl was lovingly by his side as he went to school and worked simultaneously and all throughout their many moves due to his career. 

If you knew Mike, you knew that he loved talking, listening to stories, and being around people.  He could carry on a conversation with anyone and often did good deeds where no one would see. He had a real heart for God’s people and had great biblical knowledge. 

His claim to fame was being a classmate with Jimmy Buffet and trying to get backstage at his concerts through pictures of both of them at McGill prom with their mothers.  It was known to work a few times.  He taught his children every new song released as they danced around the stereo even when his wife, Cheryl, disagreed with the lyrics.

What we will remember most about Mike is that he loved life, shared happiness, talked us through the sad times and gave great hugs. He will be greatly missed.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Grover Robert and Lolete Morgan Reynolds. He is survived by his loving wife, Cheryl Freeman Reynolds; their three children, Diane Elizabeth Reynolds, Michele Reynolds Patrick (McGowin Patrick), and Brad Reynolds (Julie Severson Reynolds); grandchildren, David Ryan Reynolds, Brandon Michael Reynolds (Sarah Burckel Reynolds), Rachel Sierra Reynolds, and Abigail Elizabeth Alleman, Michele McCoy Patrick, Lillian McGowin Patrick and Jesse Freeman Patrick, and Avery Mae Reynolds and Noah Ramsey Reynolds; great-grandchildren, Lucienne Reynolds and Milani Reynolds-Dickson; siblings, Robert Reynolds, Ann Reynolds Greenwood (John Clinton Greenwood) and William Reynolds (Debra Beasley Reynolds); and he and Cheryl’s dog, Summer. 

A visitation and Memorial Mass will be held at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church, 4156 Burma Road, Mobile, AL, on Monday, May 15, 2023, to celebrate his life. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM in the Murphy Center, and Memorial Mass at 11:00 AM in the church. There will be a gathering with family and friends afterwards in the Murphy Center on St. Dominic’s campus. All are welcome!

In honor of Mike’s life, memorials can be made to Fort Morgan State Historic Site, 110 Highway 180, Gulf Shores, Alabama 36542.

Expressions of condolence for the family may be made at www.hughesfh.com. Hughes Funeral Home, 26209 Pollard Road, Daphne, AL, is assisting the family.