A remarkable lady given a remarkable farewell

The Shroyer Road Baptist Church was packed on May 24 as family, friends and multiple congregations said farewell to Mrs. Theodore (Teddy) Reed, the charismatic music director of the church.

Shroyer Road, once a suburban church on what was then the edge of greater Dayton, and a church with a history extending back to the rather staid German Baptist traditions, in recent years has explored new systems of worship. Teddy Reed, music director for less than a year, was a cherished figure of musical excellence that was a mix of the traditional and the African-American experience.

Mrs. Reed, the mother of 10 whom she molded into fine, God-fearing citizens as well as lovers of music in their own right, became ill earlier this spring and died after a brief bout with cancer at Kettering Medical Center. She came to Shroyer Road, already the sponsor of a number of refugees from strife-torn Africa, to use her remarkable talents as a musician and a leader in the cause of building up and inspiring a congregation serving an older East Dayton neighborhood.

She had served various congregations in the city and was a member of Harris Memorial AME before she came to SRB. Her funeral service reflected the devotion of her church friends and the love of her family. The pastoral roster at the service included Rev. Ken Damon of Shroyer Road, Rev. Earl Hudson of Harris Memorial, Rev . Charles Spencer of Christian Disciples, Dr. William Talley of Columbus Bible Way, Rev. Charles McKinney of Middletown's New Life Christian Center, Rev., Thomas Spenser of the First Church of God, Columbus, and Pastor Mel Griffin, her son-in-law.

She was born Jan. 8, 1933, in Barbourville, Ky., the daughter of Robert and Bessie White. She was valedictorian of her high school and very early appeared with her father on music programs broadcast by WCCT in Corbin, Ky. She was married to Vernonb Reed Sr., until his death in 1989.

Survivors include a sister, Ruth Porter of Ypsilanti, MI,; a brother, Robert White of Detroit; mother-in-law Ruth Reed; sister-in-law, Lydia Davis of Dayton; children, Evelyn Heard of Taylor, MI; Vernon Jr. of Hartford, CT; Keith Reed, Donna Griffin, Darla Nichols, Dwayne Reed, all of Columbus; Tawana Baccus, Kelvin Reed and Steven Reed of Dayton; Phillip Reed of Oakland, CA; 18 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Burial was in West Memory Garden. Moraine. Arrangements were by the McLin Funeral Home.

Pastor Damon said that it was an extraordinary privilege to have known and worked with Teddy, and he noted that it marked a milestone in the gathering of Christians of all races and denominations together. After the graveside services, the family and friends gathered some 175 strong for a luncheon hosted by the Shroyer Road congregation.