William Otis Reed

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Mr. William Otis Reed was born Feb. 26, 1941, to Leonard and Lydia Reed in Senatobia, Miss. He was a longtime resident of Blytheville and was well-respected in his community. He worked and traveled the country as a truck driver and was the sole proprietor of Reed's Grocery. He will not only be missed by his family but many throughout his community and his beloved church family. He was a member of St. Luke Gospel Deliverance Church in Blytheville, where he served as a deacon since 1978. Rev. C.L. Donnerson was his pastor.

Mr. Reed departed this life on Sunday, June 19, 2011, at the Methodist University Hospital in Memphis.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, William Reed; one brother, Rickey Reed; and one sister, Marie Sullivan.

He leaves his wife of 51 years, Dora Mae Reed of Blytheville;

One son, Leverne (and Sheila) Reed of Blytheville;

Four daughters, Dora (and Toney) Cullens of San Antonio, Texas, Winnie (and Richard) Johnson and Pamela (and Steven) Cone, all of Dayton, Ohio, and Sharonda Reed of Blytheville;

Three brothers, James (and Brenda) Reed of Little Rock, Jessie (and Morine) Reed of Chicago, and Raymond Reed of Senatobia;

Five sisters, Gladys Elion and Barbara (and Charlie) Parsons, all of Chicago, Wilma Reed of Senatobia, Cora Jean Brown and Marilyn (Lewis) Thornton, all of Dayton;

One brother-in-law, Joe (and Diane) Ruffin;

Two sisters-in-law, Delores Reed and Bonnie Ruffin;

One sister, Frankie J. Reed-Potts; and

Fourteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren,

The family will receive visitors at Wilson Funeral Home of Blytheville from 5-7 p.m. Thursday.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Truelight Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. C.L. Donnerson officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Blytheville.