In 1953 the need for an animal humane society in the Covington area was foremost in the minds of several individuals, among them Holly Reynolds, Elizabeth Capers, Dr. L.L. Landon, Albert Kaufmann, Dr. Herbert Cannon, Hugo Weidmann and Lois Burns. They started the St. Tammany Humane Society and by the next year, an animal shelter building had been built near the parish fairgrounds for the group.
Holly Reynolds went on to take part in several additional major animal rights accomplishments and was honored in 2021 by the Louisiana State Legislature for her many years of working with saving and caring for animals. She was recognized as a longtime animal advocate who had established three major humane organizations, including the St. Tammany Humane Society.
The Humane Society of Louisiana led the effort to have lawmakers recognize Reynolds by proposing a resolution in her honor, which was passed unanimously and was signed by Gov. John Bel Edwards.
Reynolds died on October 11, 2022, in Baton Rouge, at the age of 103. Her death was announced by The Capital Area Animal Welfare Society (CAAWS). Reynolds founded CAAWS in 1979 and supported and worked for it for the past 43 years. A spokesman for the group said, “We are forever grateful for her hard work and tenacity in helping animals in our city, state, region, and country."
Over the past 70 years Reynolds lobbied for legislation and tougher penalties against animal abusers, serving as a volunteer for and donating to a number of local animal charities. Her St. Tammany Humane Society is now located southeast of Covington on Dog Pound Road (or its official name of Harrison Avenue), and that organization is now known as the Northshore Humane Society.
She was Pat Clanton's cousin and good friend as well as a longtime neighbor. "She was a champion for people who were ill, and she was the best spokesman and champion for all animals," Clanton said.
Holly Louise Frederick Reynolds was active in a variety of community service efforts, including helping to start the first youth recreation program in Covington in 1947. She was always willing to help those that could not help themselves, and she worked at Southeast Hospital in Mandeville from 1953-1973, then Jackson State Hospital from 1973 to 1977.
"She opened one of the first animal shelters in the state," Mrs. Clanton said. " She named it the Covington Animal Shelter. She moved to Baton Rouge so that she could go to all the important meetings of the legislature, and she did show up when she should have."
"Holly was a driving force for what she believed in, and that was the protection of animals," Clanton noted. "She had been recognized by the United States Animal Rights Committee as a very special member of animal rights efforts."
She was also active with the Playmakers group in the 1960's.
The Northshore Humane Society (NHS) noted that she was involved in many animal rights movements across the state of Louisiana and supported animal efforts all the way up until her death.
Scott Bernier, the NHS CEO, released the following statement: “Northshore Humane Society is a living testament to the dedication and compassion she had shown to homeless animals throughout her lifetime. I am grateful for the foundation she created for the betterment of animals in the Northshore region and honored to continue her lifesaving work here at NHS."
therapeutic recreational activities
Jeff Dorson, executive director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, called her by far "the greatest animal rights advocate in the state.” According to the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate, "In 1997, to make sure that her work continues, she established and generously funded the Holly Frederick Reynolds Support Foundation for Animal Welfare."
According to her obituary, she was born in Lynchburg, VA, and raised in Covington, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. C. Sidney Frederick.
A Lifetime of Service
In an article posted on the Brenau University website in October of last year, she was commended for "finding a passion and following where it leads, answering the call for help when it comes and taking action instead of just hoping for change. "
A 1939 graduate of Brenau University in Gainesville, GA, Reynolds was always encouraging individuals to "go for it."
"She knows what she’s talking about, too," the article stated. "She’s spent nearly her whole life making a difference — helping both people and animals along the way.
The article mentioned her living through two of the biggest hurricanes in the state’s history, Katrina in 2005 and Ida in 2021. While at Brenau she earned a degree in sociology and physical education. She then attended Louisiana State University, where she earned a master’s degree in recreation in 1941, according to the Brenau article.
During World War II, she joined the Red Cross. Reynolds was one of the many whose accounts of the war were recorded by the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
Her first dog, which had been born on Independence Day, was named "Yankee Doodle Dandy," and it helped her through a difficult time. She credited him with opening her eyes to the devotion, company, love and companionship that a pet can provide.
The Brenau University article went on to tell how, in 1981, she founded the nonprofit Coalition of Louisiana Animal Advocates. She worked with then-state Rep. Garey Forster to pass a law that made dogfighting a felony — Louisiana’s first dogfighting law. And in 1997, she started the Holly Frederick Reynolds Support Foundation for Animal Welfare, a nonprofit that makes yearly donations to animal welfare groups.
Great Overview of Her Life
Click on the above Play Triangle to view the video
The wording of the 2021 state legislature honor went as follows:
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 29
WHEREAS, Holly Frederick Reynolds's life is marked by her undauntable confidence and enthusiastic resolve to fight for what she believes in; these qualities are why Jeff Dorson, the executive director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, said "Holly is by far the greatest animal rights advocate in the state"; and
WHEREAS, Holly Reynolds was not always a full-time animal rights advocate; she graduated from Louisiana State University with a master's degree in recreation in 1941, and she worked for the state hospitals in Mandeville and Jackson from 1953 until 1977; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Reynolds founded a humane society in St. Tammany Parish in 1953; when she learned the Baton Rouge branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had closed its doors, she moved to the capital city and in 1979 founded the Capital Area Animal Welfare Society; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Reynolds continued her work for increased animal rights by teaming up with Representative Garey Forster and the Legislature of Louisiana in 1983 to help pass Louisiana's first dogfighting laws; her efforts helped make dogfighting a felony in the state; and
WHEREAS, true to her steadfast nature, she ensured that her efforts would continue to progress by establishing the Holly Frederick Reynolds Support Foundation for Animal Welfare in 1997; she also generously funded the foundation to help ensure its longevity; today, the foundation makes annual contributions to various animal welfare groups, and most recently, she requested that the foundation donate $5,000 to purchase pet food for animal owners impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Reynolds has not let her age temper her relentless pursuit of increased rights for animals; at one hundred and two years old, she continues lobbying at the capitol; and
WHEREAS, Holly Reynolds is truly an exceptional individual; her acute sense of civic duty and passion for animal rights is immensely inspiring, and her tireless efforts to achieve equality for all living things is most deserving of the highest recognition.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Holly Frederick Reynolds for decades of animal rights advocacy; does hereby thank Ms. Reynolds for her passionate pursuit of animal welfare through social activism and the democratic process; and does hereby extend most sincere wishes that she continue to enjoy good health as she fights for what she believes in.
End of Legislative Resolution
--------------------------
Her obituary was published online by Rabenhorst Funeral Home of Baton Rouge. Here are some excerpts from their account of her life:
"Mrs. Holly Louise Frederick Reynolds was a graduate of Ursuline High School in New Orleans. During World War II she volunteered for overseas service with the American Red Cross and was assigned to the European Theatre of Operations from 1943 until the end of the War in Europe in 1945.
"Her work with the 5th Infantry Division and her postwar interest in it motivated the Society of the 5th Division to name her as the only female member of that organization.
"In 1947, she organized the first public recreation program in Covington – summer activities for youngsters held in the Lyon High School gym. Her personal recreational activities included square dancing, golf, snow-ski vacations, hand crafts and canasta.
"She worked two years as Activities Director for the New Orleans YWCA and then as Service Club Director at Keesler Air Force Base. She returned to Covington in 1953 to begin 20 years as Recreational Therapy Director at Southeast LA Hospital in Mandeville.
"During that time, she founded the St. Tammany Humane Society, which was then only the 4th such organization in Louisiana. In 1953 her involvement in animal welfare increased and spread to national as well as state and local activities.
"In 1973, her recreation work took her to East Louisiana State Hospital in Jackson, La. After retiring from state service in 1977, Holly moved to Baton Rouge for the purpose of establishing a humane society, as the Baton Rouge SPCA had closed and she felt strongly the need for the Louisiana capital city to have one. This resulted in CAAWS, Capital Area Animal Welfare Society (1979) and was followed by COLAA, Coalition of Louisiana Animal Activists – a statewide group (1981).
"A particular concern of hers was improving state and national legislation for animal welfare, and she was active in both for many decades. In 1997, she created and funded the Holly Frederick Reynolds Support Foundation for Animal Welfare to continue her work after her death. She was the oldest known living member to attend the 1st annual meeting of the Humane Society of the United States in Grand Rapids, MI in 1955, now the largest such organization in the country.
"She was proud to have been a member of “the Greatest Generation.”
Patricia Clanton wrote a eulogy for her friend and fellow community activist Holly Louise Reynolds. Here is that eulogy offered by Mrs. Clanton:
Eulogy for Holly Louise Frederick Reynolds
"My Godmother, My Cousin, My Friend. She was a friend to many and friend to every animal on the face of the planet.
"Caring about animals, whether they were large or small, wild or tame, aggressive or gentle, was her passion. Holly devoted many years of her life to the protection of Animal Rights and the Humane treatment of animals.
"Holly's talents were many and varied. Besides her love and care of animals she accomplished a number of other very meaningful endeavors which were devoted to the care of and the well being, of all things, people.
"I'd like to take a minute to walk through Holly's life and acknowledge some of her accomplishments. She was born the 16th day of December in 1918. She was only two months old when she was brought to Covington where she grew up. She attended Covington Grammar School and was sent to Ursulines in New Orleans where she completed High School, graduated from Brenau University in 1939 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and then received a Masters Degree from L.S.U. in Recreation Therapy.
"A few short years later our country put out a call for volunteers to join the Red Cross to help our soldiers who were sent overseas during WWII It did not take Holly long to make up her mind to join up. Holly spent the next several years in England , Northern Ireland and Wales. Her duties were many and varied. What ever she was called upon to do, she did it with her heart and soul.
"During the time that Holly served in Ireland or Whales , she met a handsome soldier and they were married. It was not long after that there was a problem and her husband wanted a divorce. I never knew more than that about her life at that time, and I never asked questions, but I did know that this was a very unhappy time in her life, and she continued to do what she could for others and for the world of animals.
"In 1952 she was appointed to the position of Chief of the Recreation Therapy Department at Southeast Louisiana Hospital in Mandeville. She held that position for 20 years and then transferred to Louisiana State Hospital in Jackson, La.
"During those years of service people who had problems or depression or had disabilities of one kind or another, it was Holly who worked to make life a little better for them. She spent time to listen to them with the hope to make their life a little better. Listening to them did help to make their life a little better, she said.
"I had hoped that Holly would move back to Covington, but I knew that she wanted to be in Baton Rouge where she could attend the Legislative Sessions in order to lobby for the animal rights. She did just that, her voice was there! She was a strong voice for the rights of those in the animal world, and I always told her that upon her death she would be greeted by a multitude of all the animals. I think that she was!
"It was in 1954 that Holly became the founder of the first Animal Shelter in St. Tammany Parish, and it is still in operation today. It has received many awards, has an excellent reputation and is a leading Animal Shelter.
"The C.A.A.W.S. presented their Lifetime Achievement Award to Holly, she was the organizer or Founder of other organizations, such as The Coalition of Louisiana Animal Activists (C.O.L.A.) and the Alliance of Louisiana To Protect and Help Animals. In 2000 her Alma Mater Brenau University presented her with their Community Service Award.
"I came across an article with a headline that I think sums up her life. There was a very nice picture of her in the middle of the page and on one side of the picture, it said: "The Lady Likes To Help People" and on the other side of the picture, it said: "The Lady Likes To Help Animals."
"That to me was the theme of the life of Holly Louise Frederick Reynolds."
End of eulogy written by her
cousin Patricia Fuhrmann Clanton
See also:
Obituary - Rabenhorst Funeral Home
Humane Society of the United States Article
Feature Article from Brenau University
Feature Article from InRegister
Paul Pegue Helped Humane Society
