Lottie Mae Reed

Lottie Mae (Byrd) Reed, formerly of Erwin, North Carolina passed away peacefully in her home on July 7, 2025, surrounded by her loved ones who will continue to honor her legacy by serving with love, devotion, and selflessness.
Born Lottie Mae Byrd on June 1,1941 to the late Zebedee Byrd and Betty Flora Maynor, Lottie spent her early years in Dunn North Carolina and later moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her family when she was three years old.
Educated in the Pittsburgh Public School system, Lottie attended Fifth Avenue High School. After dedicating her life to raising her children, Lottie continued her educational path. She graduated from Point Park College with a BA in Psychology and Duquesne University with a MS in Social Work. A committed and driven adult learner, Lottie earned both degrees while working full-time as a caseworker for Children and Youth Services in Allegheny County.
A champion and advocate for women, children, and those suffering from mental illness, Lottie was instrumental in steering at-risk youth, securing safe havens and higher education for homeless women, and advocating for mental health. As an instructor at Urban Youth Action, she facilitated workshops for teenagers and young adults, provided enrichment activities, and provided work-readiness skills to prepare them to become successful in life and their careers.
Lottie continued to champion for children when she became a caseworker for Children and Youth Services of Allegheny County where she worked tirelessly to safeguard the well-being of children and ensure that every child had a safe and nurturing environment. Extending her passion to adults, she worked as a monitor for Allegheny County Mental Health where she served not only children but adults with mental illness and/or substance use disorders.
Lottie would end her career as Deputy Director of Womanspace East, Inc., a nonprofit organization serving homeless families with dependent children where she went above and beyond the agency's mission of providing emergency shelter and counseling. Oftentimes, she would come home at night and sew curtains and pot plants for the residents who had fallen victim to homelessness to ensure their temporary shelter felt like "home."
Following retirement from Womanspace East, Inc. in 2014, Lottie continued to serve as a Board member of Primary Care Health Services (Alma Illery Medical Center) fulfilling fiduciary duties, promoting the center's mission, and advocating public health initiatives.
Although she spent much of her life serving others, Lottie had more than enough love to share with her family. A devoted mother, grandmother, and mother-in-law, she embraced the role to the fullest! Never missing an opportunity to host Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, Lottie enjoyed spending the day making homemade EVERYTHING. Known for her sweet potato pie and sand tart cookies, Lottie often gifted these delights to family and friends in lieu of presents.
The simplest pleasures in life gave her joy. In her early years, she loved to roller-skate, dance, exercise, and WALK. Everyone in the neighborhood would say, "I saw your mother walking!" Later in life, she found happiness in baking, shopping (for others), and gardening. Just like her infectious personality, any plant with which she came in contact would instantly thrive!
Proverbs 31:31: "Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."
Lottie's legacy of devotion and altruism will live on through her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her daughters, Barbara Reed Delaney (Darryl) and Linda Bailey Taylor (Robert); son, Terry Reed; grandchildren, Robert, Whitney, Tiffane´, and Carlos and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her brothers Alonzo and Leroy Byrd, and son Melvin Reed Jr.
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