WHEREAS, Alice M. Turner Reed was born the second of nine children in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduated from Germantown High School in 1942, and was an active member of Mother Bethel AME Church throughout her life; and
WHEREAS, Alice Reed met and married the late Elisha Reed and in addition to their five children took on the nurturing and encouraging of her entire community; and
WHEREAS, Alice worked with Herman Wrice and the Young, Great Society as a "volunteer mother," patrolling the halls of Germantown High School during a time that many were afraid to venture out of their homes; and
WHEREAS, Alice Reed took on social, political and community issues early in life. She helped break the racial barrier at the Germantown YWCA and subsequently served in a board of advisory position at Waterview Recreation Center and Wissahickon Boys & Girls Club and the Greater Germantown Community Association - one of the first integrated civic groups in Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, "Big Al," as she was sometimes called, was a pillar of the community whose age and health did not deter her from continued political and community activism; and
WHEREAS, She will be sadly missed by her children, the Honorable Donna Reed Miller, Rochelle Linda Barlow, Bilal Reed and Nafis Reed, two sons-in-law, Kenneth Miller and Kenneth Barlow, one daughter-in-law Deanna Reed, one great granddaughter-in-law Alaya Reed, twelve grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, three sisters and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and a multitude of "adopted" children; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor and commemorate Alice M. Turner Reed, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, good neighbor, and tireless worker for fairness and a better life for all.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Alice M. Turner Reed's family as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.