Mother Rose Reed

Mother Rose Reed
Alton - Evangelist Lady Rose Mary Alton-Reed was born in Alton, Illinois on September 10, 1945, to the union of Superintendent Lewis VanZandt and Mother Dorothy VanZandt, a second-generation Church of God in Christ member. She was the fourth child of a loving family of six children. Her education began in the Alton School System and she obtained higher education at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville where she majored in Business Administration. First Lady Reed accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at a young age and continued that walk. She married the love of her life, the late Pastor Roosevelt Reed in 1967. They were Pastor and First Lady of Oakwood Church of God in Christ for 38 years. To their union were born two children, a son Dr. Pastor Andre' Reed and a daughter, Dr. Evangelist Adrienne Reed. She was blessed with two grandchildren, Breyon and Crystal and two great grandchildren, Zion and Zamar. She lived her life purposefully, pouring into others, with grace and exceeding joy. Throughout her life she was a mentor, lifelong educator and was intentional about sowing seeds of love and kindness. Mother Reed did not fear death because she knew with great certainty where she was going to spend eternity. On Wednesday June 12, 2024, God the giver of all life, in his infinite wisdom, closed the curtain of life and called Mother Reed back to Himself. She was 78 years old. First Lady Reed leaves behind a legacy of faith, love quiet strength, and boldness in the Lord.Her vibrant and loving disposition were hallmarks of her personality and will be forever missed by the many lives she touched. How great is our God to have blessed us with one who touched our lives, shared our dreams and enriched our souls as First Lady Rose Reed did. God be praised for a life well lived. She was preceded in death by her parents, Superintendent Lewis Edwin VanZandt and First Lady Dorothy Bernadine VanZandt, her sister Marieta Francine Haynes, brother Pastor Lewis Wallace VanZandt, brother Superintendent Benjamin F. VanZandt, sister, Mother Dorothy Hazel Lovett and son in love Minister Cedric Oliver. She leaves a great and lasting legacy that will continue on through her devoted family: son, Dr. Pastor Andre' Reed, daughter, Dr. Evangelist Adrienne Reed, grandchildren Breyon McElroy and Crystal Rose Oliver, great grandchildren Zion and Zamar McElroy, brother: Minister of Music Dwayne (Kimberly)VanZandt, eight sister in loves and twelve brothers in love, a special daughter Deborah Holmes, a host of nieces and nephews and cousins and most importantly her church family Oakwood Church of God in Christ and Prayer Wheel Church of God in Christ congregations. Services will be June 29, 2024, at Oakwood Church of God in Christ 4712 N. Alby Rd. 10:00 am with services following at 11:00am. Entombment Upper Alton Cemetery. Cathy M. Williams & Sons Funeral Home in Alton.