William Reed Chapman, Sr., was born to Clayton James Chapman, & wife, Sarah Elizabeth Crye Chapman, in the rural Dorton community of Crossville, TN. He was their 3rd born son, though older brother, James Harvey, died in infancy. Siblings included older brother, Hugh, and also younger ones, Lavinia, Anna Mae, & baby Clayton. In 1925, his father, Clay, was murdered. The man who shot him in the back died in the state penitentiary, while Reed's mother, Lizzie, fought the terminal cancer that would leave her five children orphans, in 1929. Reed left school, at age 12, to help older brother, Hugh, support thier extremely ill mother & siblings, eventually finding work, running a jackhammer, in the local quarry. After Lizzie's death, the girls were sent to live with relatives in Loudon Co., while an adult Hugh, 15 year old Reed, & baby brother, Clayton, 6, stayed in Cumberland Co., at "the old homeplace", so that the youngest of the brood, and the girls, could attend school. Hugh continued to work on the TN Central R.R., as their father, Clay had, and after several years at the quarry, Reed joined his older brother on the "Old T.C.", & began to work his way up, on the job. On Aug. 7, 1935, Reed took another step forward in life, marrying Mary Helen "Mollie" McLean, whose brothers & father worked alongside him, on the railroad. Over the next 6 years, they were blessed with 3 children--- Loretta Jean, William Reed, Jr. ("Billy"), & Patricia ("Patsy"), as Reed moved from a section laborer position, to a plumb position, as a section foreman, though the managerial role did require frequent moves. He would hold that job with the R.R. until the late 60's, when he retired, & they bought a home in So. Nashville's Woodbine area. Reed enjoyed teaching Sunday School at the local Baptist church, woodworking in his backyard shop, watching his "stories" (especially "Days of Our Lives"), and visiting with family & friends. He continued to "court" Mollie, often surprising her with flowers, candy, hats, gloves, & costume jewelry. A strong "Lincoln Republican", like his ancestors, his favorite reading materials were the "Nashville Banner", & his R.R. "Union Paper", and he saw no apparent contradiction between the two! He loved spending time with grandchildren Cheri, Beth, Mary, Angela, namesake Anthony Reed "Tony", David, & Cathy. (Final grandchild, Karen, was born 3 yrs. after his death.) 1st great-grand-daughter, Joey, was a special delight, as was the birth of her baby sister, fellow redhead, Becky, born on his last birthday. An early smoker, he quit in his 50's, but not before emphyzema had permanently marred his lungs. He succumbed to unforeseen complications, likely a clot, following surgery, a month shy of his 63rd birthday. Even at this relatively young age, he had already buried 3 of his 4 siblings. In the end, only little sister Anna Mae, survived him, from his family of birth. Wife Mollie & he were re-united, after nearly two decades apart, with his remaining sister, daughter Jean, & son Billy, having all joined him by 2005.