Willard D. Reed was born May 4, 1938, in Gurdon, Arkansas to the union of Fletcher Reed and Gladys Gill Reed. To that union, seven children were born. He was the third youngest of the clan. Willard attended Peake High School in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and on August 26, 1955, he enlisted in the United States Navy. After he was discharged April 28, 1959, Willard obtained his General Education Diploma and enrolled at Long Beach City College. After college, he worked for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company, as a Fuselage Technician for 23 years.
Willard confessed his faith in Christ at a young age and joined Greater Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Walter White. While residing in Los Angeles, CA, he joined Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church and was a member there for 25 years.
As a young man full of life, he met and married Gracie Blackmon on December 15, 1963, at Brides Wedding Chapel in Los Angeles, California. They were blessed with 60 years and 11 months of companionship and love.
In 1998, Willard and his wife Gracie, moved back to Arkadelphia and reunited with the Greater Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church family. Willard was a faithful member and served many roles. As a servant of the Lord, he was President of the Finance Committee, Treasurer of the Senior Saints, a member of the Men’s Choir, Usher, Layman, Trustee, and was honored as “Father of the Year” in 2023. He also served as Treasurer of the Peake Alumni Association.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten, Psalms 90:10. Willard was profoundly blessed to live 86 years. Though he is no longer with us in body, his legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of those who were impacted by the blessed life that he lived.
On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, Willard passed peacefully into the Lord’s embrace at Baptist Health Medical Center, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. His parents, Fletcher and Gladys Reed, son, Lamar Reed, siblings, C.W. Reed, Atoy Reed, Wilford Reed, Willie C. Reed, Nona Mae Abrams, Pensacola Holley, and bonus sister, Sadie Gladden, preceded him in death.
Because love is far greater than death, his love will always remain in the hearts of his family and friends; his beloved wife, Gracie of Arkadelphia, brother, Auston Reed of Arkadelphia, bonus sister, Betty Nelson of Arkadelphia, a host of nieces and nephews, great and grand nieces and nephews, special friends, James Flewellen, Levi Garland, Ruben Edmondson, Ollie Buckley, Rev. Alvin Newburn, Gertha Reed, Rosie Gill, Gloria Hart, Joann Williams, and caregiver, Sheila Tidwell.
Pallbearers will be Roderick Nelson, Patrick Nelson, James Williams, Levi Garland, Michael Smith, and Willie Davis. Honorable to mention is The Deacon Lacy Scott Sunday School Class, Loyd Gentry, Ollie Buckley, Auston Reed, and Ruben Edmondson.
Funeral services are under the direction of Mitchell Funeral Home of Arkadelphia, AR. Visitation will be at Mitchell Funeral Home, Friday, November 22, 2024, from 12 noon- 5:00 P.M. A Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 12:00 Noon, at Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Arkadelphia, where Dr. Lewis A. Shepherd, Jr. is pastor and will also serve as eulogist. Burial and final resting place will be in Helms Cemetery in Arkadelphia.