Ethel Ruth Reed was born in Jackson, Mississippi on August 8, 1927. Ethel was 94 years old when shefell asleep in death on Saturday, November 20, 2021. She is now resting peacefully in Jehovah God's memory until he calls her in the resurrection. She was the youngest of 12 brothers and sisters born to Surry and Cora Jones. In 1943, she married Bishop Reed Jr., a union that produced 12 children: 7 sons and 5 daughters. Three sons and one daughter preceded her in death: Richard, Ronald, Kenneth and Rochelle .Ethel was a full-time, loving mother, who poured herself out in her love for her children. She, however was affectionately known to all as " Mama Reed “because she was never short on giving out love, kindness and affection to everyone; In return, she was dearly loved by all. Even If you only met her just once, you would never forget her. She would make a total stranger feel like “family”, both welcomed and loved. It’s almost impossible not to smile when you think of mama Reed, to see her heartfelt laughter was guaranteed. If you stayed around for a visit for any time, she would feed you! She loved cooking and feeding everyone around her. She was an amazing cook, and could make anythingtaste good.

Ethel really had a green thumb. Her huge plants were amazing, especially her aloe vera plants. She could grow anything. She also loved finding rare collectibles and antiques at a bargain. She had a special eye for finding hidden treasures. She loved coin collecting, a hobby her older brother, Vernon, enjoyed as well.

Ethel became a dedicated, baptized Jehovah’s Witness on October 13, 1956. She used her sincere love of people to witness to any and every one she could, and many became lovers of Jehovah as a result. She would patiently and lovingly encourage all of her children to draw close to Jehovah, have their own bible study, and learn to Love Jehovah for themselves. Her daughter would often say ‘Mom is strong like Sampson, has wisdom and courage like David, and the patience of Job’. She wanted everyone to have her same hope, which is to be in Jehovah’s new world soon to come. She would say, “read the Bible and pray each day, and always give Jehovah your best, and do it without delay “. She loved to write poems and to rhyme about Jehovah’s word. They called it ‘Reed flow.’

Ethel is survived by eight of her children: Ethel, Douglas, Andre, Dorian (Audry), Janice, Sandra, Gerald and Pamela. She is also survived by her beloved niece Margaret Arales and herhusband Stephen Arales. Ethel was blessed with 26 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, 10 great great grandchildren, and many, many other friends and relatives, including her spiritual brothers and sisters she loved dearly, in the Detroit, MI, area and around the world. 

OUR GRANNY 

                                                                 By Natasha White 

(Inspired by Psalm 37:11”The meek will possess the earth..”) 

As memories of granny flow through my mind, 

I remember being little, and her kissing me on the cheek, followed by her signature little bite. 

But no memory of granny would be complete  

Without reminiscing on the good times we had on Santa Rosa Street! 

I was young, chasing ice cream trucks, riding bikes and begging to walk to trade winds. 

I remember loud laughter,domino games, lots of food, and being surrounded with family and neighborhood friends. 

As I grew older, each year she would ask me on a certain day in June, 

Have the years taught you what the days never knew? 

 our granny, forever the poet, her words making me think.  

True, as we get older we should grow wiser, letting wisdom guide how we do things. 

I’m glad to learn all the lessons that granny taught me, 

About the truth she held so dear, and what our future could be. 

Granny knew she would live again in paradise, and I certainly did too, 

But its still hard to believe, even in my mind’s eye, when I imagine it coming true! 

I see someone walking toward me, with that beautiful familiar smile 

It looks like granny in that young picture I saw of her, but its been a while. 

My eyes fill with tears of joy, and we hug each other so tight. 

Then, she gives me a kiss on the cheek and punctuates it with her signature little bite. 

I looked at her and laughed through my tears, 

Oh that really is you granny!! But what she did next, was music to my ears 

She rhymed to me, “Its been a long time -no -see my dear, but is that the rest of the family I hear?” 

I excitedly think, she is going to be so proud of what she’s about to see,  

All of her hard work, faith, love and patience paid off for her progeny. 

 She gasps in amazement at seeing all of her children, right down to the smallest great, great, grand. 

This is the welcome our granny always dreamed of, seeing every member of her great
Reed Clan!