Ms. Viola Reid

CELEBRATING VIOLA 

Viola M. Reid (aka 21 or Miss Vy) the daughter of the late Elizabeth (Bute Fair) Smith and Thomas Smith gained her wings and took flight on the early Saturday morning with her daughter and son-in-law Gordon Wilson with her as she boarded the old ship of Zion.

21, as she was affectionately called was born in Machipongo, Virginia, and she was educated in the Northampton County Public School system.

Vy, spent her earlier years on the Eastern Shore. It is where she met and married the late Junior Reid, and three children were born to the union. However, desiring to explore her life’s dream, she relocated to the Harlem section of New York. Miss Vy was blessed with one more son. Vy’s love for children caused her to open her heart and home as a foster mother to 4 more children. This did not stop her from demonstrating her entrepreneurial skills of being a restaurant and lounge owner, she was well known for her delicious meals. Even while being a business icon Vy, still was a loving and caring mother. She possessed a multitude of entrepreneurial skills that allowed her to provide a wholesome life for her family.

She was well known throughout the neighborhood and the community loved and respected her especially, Peter, who became a lifelong companion and they each became the love of each other’s lives.

Miss Vy, had setbacks in her life when she lost two of her sons and 1 of her grandchildren, but her faith allowed her to trust in God and keep them in her memory as she continued to raise and cherish her other children which were a gift from God. Once Vy’s health began to decline the care that she so freely given as a mother was given back to her as her daughter Bernice and her husband, Gordon, moved her to their home in Virginia, where they gave her unconditional and exceptional love and care.

To know Vy was to know one who loved life and lived it to the fullest. She was the life of the party, enjoying all those with whom she met, whether through her professional or personal life, everyone loved Vy.

She leaves to carry on her legacy of love: life long companion, Sammie Drakeford of Kershaw, SC; her children, Bernice Wilson (Gordon) of Nassawadox, Va, Anthony, Vanessa, Charles, Cassie, and Kelley, all of New York; siblings, Doretha Reid of New Jersey, William Reid (Tabatha) of Alexandria, Va, Chester and Jerome Reid of New York, Margaret Reid of Machinpongo, Va, Shirley Spady and Rudolph Reid of Alexandria, Va; eight (8) grandchildren; three (3) great-grandchildren; 2 sons, Elvis Reid and Kelvin Reid; four (4) brothers and two (2) sisters all predeceased her.

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