Charles and Rebecca Reese: Spouses and Co-Workers

Photos provided by Rampage photographers Nathan LePere and Jenny Mitchell.

Sometimes it’s hard in a workplace to learn to work with co-workers. People do certain tasks differently, but everyone is trying to accomplish the same goal. It’s a process to learn how to work well with different people. Imagine a workplace where your closest co-worker is your spouse.

That’s exactly the case for Charles and Rebecca McCoy-Reese, co-chairs of the Theatre Department at Bluefield University. In fact, they have not only been married for 33 years, but they’ve been working together for 35 years — 22 of those years teaching at BU.

“I can’t imagine not working together” said Rebecca. “We’ve always worked together,” added Charles.

The beginning of Charles and Rebecca’s story started when Charles was directing an outdoor drama one summer and Rebecca auditioned for a role. The only problem was Charles had already filled the positions he needed, but he quickly remedied this dilemma by creating a job for Rebecca in production — a secret he didn’t reveal until later on their 10th wedding anniversary.  

“On stage (10 years later), he said something about ‘you know, I made up this job for (you),’” Rebecca recalled. Thirty-five years later, not only are they still working together, but they just celebrated their 33rd year of marriage.

Before coming to BU, the couple worked with a traveling Christian drama ministry. With this troupe, they performed for churches, conferences, and colleges. While preforming at Virginia Tech, they were approached by the campus minister of Bluefield University and asked to perform their show for BU’s Christian Emphasis Week. By the end of the week, the president of the college at the time asked the Reeses if they would be interested in becoming a permanent part of the BU family as teachers in the Theatre Department. The offer, Rebecca said was “an answered prayer.”

“It was a God thing,” Charles said.

In describing their work together, they said they both know how each other thinks, and they like to bounce ideas off each other. Even others recognize the cooperationg in the way they work. Rebecca shared a story about a former co-worker, Brenda Workman, who said that when she thought of synergy, she thought of Charles and Rebecca. Workman said that Charles and Rebecca are so much more together than they are separate from each other.

Like in life, conflict arises from time-to-time. Charles and Rebecca said that when they have a disagreement, they just work it out. They feel that having disagreements in marriage is normal, but you have to be able to talk through it and come up with a solution.

What’s the main reason for their disagreements? They can direct and perform together, but they both agreed that when it comes to teaching, they approach it differently.

“Our teaching styles are too different,” Charles said. But they use their different teaching approaches in a positive way. If one is struggling to reach a student, then the other’s teaching style may benefit that student more.

What are the keys for a couple to maintain not only their relationship, but also be able to work together? Rebecca said that number one, the couple has to “love each other.” They both also agree that communication is an important factor. When a conflict comes, communication will help solve it. They say it’s best to communicate what you need instead of taking it for granted that the other person knows what you want.

“Communication is paramount,” Rebecca said.

If around the Reeses, it is easy to see how they work so well together. They both seem to finish each other’s sentences or add on to what the other is saying. They both said their work and home life are almost one, and they both seem to love the same things: theatre and helping their students grow in their skills and relationships with God. It’s easy to see their love for each other, as well.

“We found each other, and it was just who it was supposed to be,” Rebecca said.