James Reeves Espy, age 72, passed away peacefully on February 16, 2026 at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital in Tallahassee, Florida.
Reeves was the last baby born in Dothan, Alabama on December 31, 1953.
Reeves grew up in Abbeville, Alabama. After graduating from Abbeville High School in 1972, he attended Troy State University.
While at Troy he became a member of Delta Chi Fraternity. He was also a Big Brother to the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. Reeves graduated from Troy with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. Reeves later decided to follow his true passion and went
back to school at Florida A&M in Tallahassee, Florida. There he obtained a degree in Landscape Design. He soon formed his own company Espy Lawn and Landscaping located in Tallahassee. Reeves received many accolades for his design work. A landscape project he was proud of was his designs for Florida State
University’s Law School grounds. He was also instrumental for the design of the tree lined landscape in in downtown Abbeville, Alabama. Reeves was not only a lover of nature, plants and flowers, he also loved cats and dogs. He always had a bowl set out
for a needy animal. Reeves spent several of the last years at the Espy family home in Abbeville, Alabama.
Reeves was preceded in death by his father John Darby Espy, Jr., his mother Virginia Richardson Espy and his nephew Jeffry H. Grace. He is survived by his sister Ann Espy Grace (Hoyt), his brother John “Darby” Espy, III (Beverly) and his nieces, nephews and many close cousins.
A memorial gathering will be held April 25, 2026 at 11:30 for all family and friends. The gathering will take place at The Espy house, 205 Columbia Road in Abbeville.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Abbeville Rebuild Fund, P.O. Box 606, Abbeville, Alabama 36310, or The American Cancer Society, 3054 McGehee Road, Montgomery, Alabama 36111 or ARK-Safe Haven Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 126, Abbeville, Alabama 36310.
HOLMAN ABBEVILLE MORTUARY & CREMATIONS IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS. Phone 334-585-5261. You may sign a guest register at www.holmanmortuaries.com. This establishment does not own a crematory.
