Mr. Roger William Reed, Jr. was born on February 24, 1922 in Crenshaw, Mississippi. He was preceded in death by his devoted wife, Lillie Mae Reed, one daughter, Vivian Reed Hayes, his parents Roger Sr. and Julia Blunt Reed, two brothers, Charlie Reed and Lewis Reed, Sr. and his sister Etoy Reed Jones. He received his early education in Mississippi.
Over the years he continued to pursue higher educational opportunities. He studied mechanical drafting at the South Bend Technical College and received a certification from the Elkhart Business University as a Dental Technician. Roger completed the program in 1949.
It is noteworthy that he was the only African-American in the class. Roger William Reed, Jr. joined the United States Army on December 11, 1942. He served as a Technician Fifth Grade in the Army.
An unusual rank for an African-American at that time, Roger served in the 317TH as a medic. He was a trained specialist who worked removing injured men from the frontlines during World War II. He was stationed in Italy as a Dental Technician.
During his service, Roger was awarded three (3) Bronze Stars for the campaigns he served in the Northern Apennines, Po Valley and Rome-Arno Campaign. He also received a Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged from the Army on November 28, 1945.
He was entitled to wear the American Theatre Campaign Ribbon, European African Middle East Theatre Campaign Ribbon, two (2) Overseas Bars and the World War II Victory Ribbon. He was in the 92nd Infantry Division of the Buffalo Soldier and a member of the VFW Post 9733. On June 23, 1946 Roger William Reed, Jr was united in holy matrimony to Lillie Mae Dobbs at Mud Lake Baptist Church in Falcon (Quitman County), Mississippi.
From their union four children were born. During the early years of the Civil Rights Movement he joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and received a membership card signed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Reverend Ralph David Abernathy. At an early age Roger professed faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized at the Saint Joseph Missionary Baptist Church in Crenshaw, Mississippi.
His commitment to Christ in the church continued when he moved with his wife to South Bend, Indiana, and joined Greater Saint John Missionary Baptist Church in 1946. Roger remained a member of this church for over 72 years. The Reed’s raised their four children in this church and were faithful, active and reliable members until health concerns precipitated his move to Indianapolis, Indiana in 2012.
During the long years of membership and service to Greater Saint John Missionary Baptist Church, Roger William Reed, Jr. was a member of the Senior Usher Board and the Men’s Brotherhood. He was also inducted into the Greater Saint John Missionary Baptist Church’s Men of Distinction. While attending his father’s Home Going Services in Mississippi, Roger met Cousin Melvin Collier, who was distributing information about the next Reed-Puryear Family Reunion, which was planned for 2000 in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Reed-Puryear Family Reunions are a Reunion of the Descendants of William “Grandpa Bill” Reed and Sarah Partee Reed. The remarkable work of this cousin traces the family roots back through every place of slavery in the United States to the Kimbundu people in Angola, Africa, the Akan people of Ghana, West Africa and the Fulani and Yoruba peoples of Nigeria, Africa. Roger William Reed, Jr. was one of the 22 great-grandchildren who was honored to meet their distinguished man, their “Uncle Bill” whose stability and commitment to excellence in life sparked the study of this family’s ancestral heritage.
On February 24, 2018 Roger William Reed, Jr. celebrated his 96th Birthday at a surprise birthday party with his three surviving children, 10 of his grandchildren,14 of his great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, 2 sons-in-law and a daughter-in-law. On the day before his death, Roger William Reed, Jr. spent hours smiling and starring at his family. He was in the home of his daughter, Carolyn Jean Thomas, surrounded by the love and care of his devoted family.
During the final night before his transition, he loudly spoke these words: “Okay Jesus, okay… Okay Jesus, okay! ” In the morning of April 26, 2018, Roger William Reed, Jr. went home to be with the Lord of Glory. An unusually bright sunlight shone in the room where his peaceful body lay.
Those who remain to cherish his memory are his three children, Kenneth William, (Cynthia) Reed, Patricia Ann Reed Carew-Ceesay, Carolyn Jean Reed (Martin) Thomas; his brother, Archie Lee Reed and a beloved son-in-law, Arnold Hayes (husband of the late Vivian Reed Hayes). Grand Children: Crystal Kay Reed, Kenneth Jay Reed, Roger Preston (Sarah) Reed, Yenoh Kenye Carew-Ceesay (David Jones), Chaieyfah YasharAh’La (Nee) Ramatu Khadijitu Carew-Ceesay, Tylisha Knox (Eric) Williams, Jason Ray (Nena) Noel, Carmen Jeanette Noel (Sonny) Spiller, Rosita Mae Knox (Curtis) Tillman, Arniesha (Scott Craft) Lynette Hayes, Kristina Nicole Hayes, and Marlaina Danielle Hayes; twenty (20) great-grandchildren and one (1) great-great grandchild; two (2) beloved Nieces, Betty Jean Carter and Darlene Carter, 4 beloved Nephews, Al Jones, Joe Jones, Lee Carter and Glen Carter; a special friend and neighbor for many years, Jeff Billisitz and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Funeral services for Mr. Roger Reed will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at Greater St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 101 N. Adams Street, South Bend with burial to follow at Highland Cemetery.
Pastor André A. McGhee will officiate. Friends may call on the family for visitation for one hour prior to service at the church. Palmer Funeral Homes – West Chapel is assisting with arrangements.
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