Top Banner for Albert Lee Reed Obituary
Albert Lee Reed Obituary

Brought to you by The House of Day Funeral Service Inc.

Albert Lee Reed

Toledo, OH

April 25, 2011

Albert Lee Reed Obituary

Advocate, Administrator, Counselor, Minister, Pastor, Teacher, Vocalist and Friend. Albert L. Reed grew up in Giles County, Pulaski, Tennessee. In 1956, he migrated with his family to Indianapolis, Indiana. He graduated from Short Ridge High School in 1958. In the fall of 1958 he enrolled at Philander Smith College and majored in Philosophy and Religion. While studying at PSC he pastured St. Mark United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. Upon graduation he pursued his studies at Garrett Theological Seminary for one year. He transferred to Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio where he graduated with a Master of Divinity. While studying there he pastured Broadus United Methodist Church in Springfield, Ohio.

On December 24, 1963 he married Roylene Wilson Reed from Little Rock, Arkansas. After graduation, he was appointed to Braden United Methodist Church in June 1966. Albert and Roylene were soon blessed with son, Timothy Lee, and later Alberta Jean.

While at Braden Rev. Reed continued his studies at the University of Toledo and earned a Specialist degree in Guidance and Counseling. In addition to providing spiritual leadership at Braden, he also served as a part-time Social Studies teacher for the Hoag Alternative Learning Center and eventually became the program’s Coordinator. During his stay in Toledo he was actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement. He led demonstrations against segregated housing and job discrimination. He worked for the unity of all people.




Following the direction of the membership of Braden, he developed the following ministries: a five-day a week Day Care Center, a Purchasing Co-Op, Senior Citizen’s Program, Community Theater, Youth Ministry Young Adult Fellowship, Building and Remodeling of the church facility, and Parking Lot development. The congregation grew approximately twenty percent over a period of 20 years. Rev. Reed spearheaded a move for the congregation to authorize a light in the church tower from dusk to sunset which would tell all who saw it that this is a community dedicated to the Glory of God.

In June 1986, Bishop Edsel Ammons appointed him as Associate Director of Counsel on Ministry of the West Ohio Conference where he served for 3 years. In 1989 he served as the Director of Metro Ministries in Toledo, Ohio for the West Ohio Conference. In 1990 he was appointed to Trilby United Methodist Church as the pastor. He retired in 1991 for the United Methodist Church. During his retirement, he assisted several Baptist churches as they sought out ministerial assistance and support in the urban areas. Later Rev. Reed pastured First Antioch Baptist church and retired in 2005.

Reverend Albert L. Reed of Toledo, Ohio passed away unexpectedly on Monday, April 25th, at Ridgewood at the age of 71. Rev. Reed leaves to celebrate his life a loving and devoted wife of 47 years, Roylene; son, Timothy Lee; daughter, Alberta Jean; brothers, Eugene Reed and Joe Louis Reed; Sisters, Annie Ruth (Ralph) Blackshear and Cora Lee Hunter and Brothers in-law, Thomas (Clover) Wilson and Clarence Wilson; Sister in-law, Doris Jean Davis and a host of other beloved relatives and friends.


Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 12:00 noon preceded by a 10:00 am - 12:00 noon Wake Service at Braden United Methodist Church,4725 Dorr St. Historic Woodlawn Cemetery.


News article) A longtime Toledo pastor and a civil-rights advocate whose church became a community center and meeting place, The Rev. Albert L. Reed,died Monday in Ridgewood Manor nursing home, Maumee. He was 71.


Pastor Reed of South Toledo had Parkinson's disease since 1991 and was in declining health in recent years, his daughter, Alberta, said.


He retired in 2005 from his last church post, as pastor of First Antioch Baptist Church. He also was a Toledo Public Schools employee. He helped lead the Hoag Alternative Learning Center and was a counselor at Libbey High School, from which he retired. He also had been a case management supervisor of the Ruth S. Ide Community Mental Health Center.


He was best known as pastor for 20 years of Braden United Methodist Church, a post to which he was appointed at age 26. "He liked a challenge, and he loved the church," his wife, Roylene, said. "He was very talented."


He was a former president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance in Toledo and later kept the Baptist Ministers' Conference informed on community happenings.


"Al was always up on current events, what was adversely affecting people who could not help themselves, and was concerned about what was going on in the African American community," said Pastor Benjamin Green of Church of the New Covenant Baptist of Toledo. "With his parishioners, he was first and foremost a friend. He was easy to get along with and always teaching, and he found many opportunities to teach."


Pastor Reed opened Braden's doors every day to worshippers. He started programs for young people, including late-night sports programs. And he spoke out and acted when he saw injustice. For a time, Braden seemed to be the spot where civil rights activity in Toledo began or ended up.


"That was the meeting place," said the Rev. Floyd Rose, a former Toledo pastor and activist. "Al Reed was perhaps the foremost and most active black leader in town."


He also was pastor in 1989-90 of Trilby United Methodist Church. Afterward, he was metropolitan ministries coordinator for the Toledo district of the United Methodist Church.


Pastor Reed ran unsuccessfully for City Council twice, in 1969 and 1991, and for the Toledo Board of Education once.


He later was appointed to the Lucas County Democratic Party's executive committee, had been a member of Toledo's Board of Community Relations, and was active in the Toledo branch of the NAACP.


He was born Dec. 14, 1939, in Pulaski, Tenn. The family moved to Indianapolis.


His call to the ministry was inspired by a Methodist minister, the Rev. J. I. Dixon.


Pastor Reed received a bachelor's degree in philosophy and religion from Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark.


He attended Garrett Theological, and received a master of divinity degree from Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio, and a specialist's degree in counseling from the University of Toledo.


Surviving are his wife, Roylene, whom he married Dec. 24, 1963; son, Timothy Lee Reed; daughter, Alberta Jean Reed; brothers, Eugene and Joe Louis Reed, and sisters, Annie Ruth Blackshear and Cora Lee Hunter.


Funeral services will be at noon Saturday in Braden United Methodist Church, 4725 Dorr St., where a wake service will begin at 10 a.m. Arrangements are by the House of Day Funeral Service.


The family suggests tributes to Braden United Methodist Church or the Parkinson Foundation of Northwest Ohio, Oak Harbor.

To share a memory or send a condolence gift, please visit the Official Obituary of Albert Lee Reed hosted by The House of Day Funeral Service Inc..

Events

Event information can be found on the Official Obituary of Albert Lee Reed.