It all began on September 30, 1947, when the eighth of nine children born to Burney and Esther Reed arrived on September 30, 1947. He was named Herman. Herman received his formal education in the Muskogee Public School system, graduating from Historic Manual Training High School with the Class of 1966.



After graduation, he attended Langston University, and from there, he was drafted into the United States Army. For two years, he courageously served his country state-side as well in Germany before his honorable discharge.



In July of 1970, he met and married the love of his life, Patricia A. Billingsley and together, they raised four children; two daughters, Stephanie and Shana and two grandchildren, Brandon and his "princess' Ashley.



For eight years, he worked for Muskogee General Hospital while continuing his education at Connors State College before gaining employment with Fort Howard Paper Company, which would later become Georgia Pacific. He remained there for twenty-seven years until his retirement in 2005.



Herman had the biggest heart, voice and smile and was loved by his family and friends alike. He was honest, sincere and never met a stranger; a thoughtful and devoted husband and father, who loved God.



At the age of sixty-two, he was called into the ministry and was ordained on April 6, 2012, serving as associate Pastor at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Tullahassee, Oklahoma.



After 66 years on Earth, the Reverend Herman Reed was called home to Heaven on Sunday, February 23, 2014 from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Those who preceded him in death; his parents, Burney and Esther Reed; his sister, Ethyl Payton; his brother-in-law, Charles Cherry; his niece, Beverly and special sister-in-law, Naomi Reed.



Those that wait to join him in Heaven; his devoted wife of forty-three years, Patricia Reed, of the home in Muskogee; two daughters, Stephanie Billingsley [Kevin] and Shana Mason [Kenneth]; two grandchildren, Brandon Reed[Toya] and Ashley Boykin [Maurice]; five sisters, Ireane Cherry, Bernice Bell, Rosie Golsten and Patricia Rogers; three brothers, James "JD" Reed [Ola Mae], Louis Reed[Richard Dean] and Bobby Reed; five sisters-in-law; six great-grandchildren; a special family member, Stacey Gladney; two honorary grandchildren, Joy McNamee and Varon Thompson; three Aunts and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The Hour of Tribute will commence on Saturday morning, March 1, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. in the most Holy sanctuary of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. Dr. Marlon J. Coleman is the gracious host Pastor and Reverend William T. Janey, Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Redbird, Presiding.

Burial will be on Monday, March 3, 2014 at 10:00 AM in the National Cemetery at Fort Gibson.

You may visit Rev. Reed on Friday, as he slumbers in peaceful repose at the funeral home from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM.