Tullahoma has always been home for Joanna Reynolds. It’s home in the truest sense of the word. From her first job at Sonic on West Lincoln Street to her current role helping families achieve their dreams of homeownership at SmartBank, every chapter of her story is rooted in a love for her community and the people who make it special.
Her early days in Tullahoma taught her the value of hard work and connection — two lessons that have carried her through a career spanning retail, banking, and now lending. After a stint at Castner Knott, Reynolds entered the banking world, working under Roy Eckert and Ann McKenzie at Regions Bank.
“They were old-school bankers and opened the door to a relationship with every customer in town,” she recalled. “I went from teller to loan assistant to lender. It was a journey, and they were part of that success.”
Today, Reynolds serves as a mortgage and loan officer at SmartBank, where, for the past seven years, she has helped numerous individuals and families navigate the home-buying process, many of them right in her hometown.
“There’s nothing like helping someone find their home in the same place that raised you,” she said.
FINDING HER PLACE IN SERVICE
While her career has thrived, Reynolds’ true passion is service — her days filled with community events and volunteer work that reflect her belief everyone can make a difference.
“Bill Yoder was our [bank] president at the time and told me I should join the chamber,” she said. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I began to think, ‘It will be what I make it.’ The chamber always says, ‘You’ll get out of it what you put into it,’ and that’s true. I found a community, a lot of the same people we had banked with or that I’d known for years. I also met so many new individuals and businessmen. You just want everyone to see the Tullahoma you know and love…Tullahoma at her very best.”
Through the chamber, Reynolds said her involvement deepened.
“I started with the ambassadors and then became involved with Coffee County Leadership,” she explained. “That introduced me to the Children’s Advocacy and Sportsman Businessmen. There are some great nonprofits out there. Then there’s the Motlow Foundation, where I’ve really enjoyed helping students complete their college education. It’s definitely been a journey of finding places of service and finding what fits.”
Most recently, Reynolds began working with fifth grade girls at Farrar Elementary School, helping to mentor them in leadership and confidence.
“This year, it’s Farrar’s fifth graders. Daryl Welch has had the boys’ group for around 15 years, but they’ve never had a consistent woman to lead the girls’ group. What began as my weekly listen to my brother-in-law and nieces’ podcast led to contacting Daryl and Farrar Elementary and saying, ‘I feel like God is telling me to work with the fifth grade girls.’ The question my brother-in-law posed was, ‘What has God been asking you to do that you haven’t yet done?’ And I knew it was working with young people.”
THE POWER OF MENTORSHIP
Reynolds credits Tullahoma’s spirit of leadership and growth to the strong women before her who paved the way for future generations.
“I think about the people who have mentored me,” she said. “The Dot Watsons, Tina Roses, and Fran Marcums. They took the time to have lunch and to share their stories, saying, ‘Have you thought about this local need, or serving in this role?’ Tullahoma is still that kind of place. You can make connections anywhere here. It’s fertile soil for mentorship and growth. I’ve seen those who reached out to help me, and now I want to give back to the next generation.”
That spirit of encouragement extends to her work with students.
“I tell my fifth grade girls something that Mayor [Lane] Curlee shares frequently when speaking, and it’s two sentences: ‘You can do it. I believe in you.’ Someone told him about attending college, but he’d never been told those words before. I think about that and who’s not hearing those words of encouragement,” she added.
LETTERS OF LOVE
Beyond work and volunteering, Reynolds shares her heart through handwritten notes — small messages of thanks, encouragement, and kindness that have touched the lives of countless people.
“Mail is my thing. I love mail, and I always have,” she said. “I feel like it’s kind of become my niche. I’ve begun mailing my fifth grade girls; most of them had never received mail. After every club meeting, I send them a letter recapping what we talked about and reminding them of Mayor Curlee’s saying as well as other quotes.”
Reynolds added that those letters are more than paper and ink; they’re part of her own story of healing.
“The mail I’ve received in my life has been life-changing,” she added. “There have been times [when] I didn’t remember who I was, but the people who’ve known me and loved me reached out to remind me of who I was and the value I possessed.”
Sending letters has taught her the power of connection — and it’s something she continues to pass along.
“I’ve got a box of letters I’ve received; my energy box. If I need a boost, I go to it,” said Reynolds.
A SMALL LIGHT
When asked what motivates her to keep showing up for her community, Reynolds shared a story that sums up her philosophy.
“I love World War II and historical fiction, and there’s this Prime series called ‘A Small Light.’ It’s about ‘Miep,’ the woman who helped hide Anne Frank’s family. She wasn’t famous or powerful — she was a secretary. But after the war, she would tell others that she was simply a small light and that anyone could be. And that stuck with me. That’s what I want to be — a small light. If everyone in our community made that their heartbeat, imagine how bright we’d shine.” GN
