Lois Lavinia Reed's Obituary
Pastor LOIS LAVINIA REED age 92 passed away May19, 2024 in Oakland, CA.
She was born, Lois Lavinia Pope,on May 15, 1932, in Roanoke, Virginia, to Erma Sue Louise Stockton and Clifton Burrell Pope. She married Robert Andrew Price and they had 4 children together in Pittsburgh, PA. They moved to the Haight/Ashbury District in San Francisco during the 1960’s where she advocated for social justice issues such as the desegregation of San Francisco schools.
She was the first woman and first black inhalation therapist at UCSF and was the first woman to receive the Chancellor's award and Regents acknowledgments for her work towards civil rights in 1970.
Later, she married Leonard Pete on July 1, 1972, in Alameda, California. They bought a large pink house on 8700 Burr St where her children and grandchildren gathered for parties and holidays. Her husband Leonard passed away on September 25, 1978, at the age of 47.
She received her Bachelor of Arts in Health Science at SFSU on May 30, 1980.
Lois loved classical music and would often attend operas with her friends. She lost some of these friends to the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. During her medical career, she worked in the ICU at Kaiser caring for patients with HIV. While she was a parishioner at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, she dedicated herself to spreading materials about AIDS prevention. Eventually, she retired from her position at Kaiser hospital as a respiratory therapist.
In the 1990’s she went to the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA to get her Masters of Divinity. She completed her internship at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, in Oakland, California. She ministered and provided counsel to incarcerated women both in prison and local jails. She was also minister at St. John’s Church in Oakland.
Her final marriage was to David Alan Reed. They have lived happily together for 24 years attending church, and traveling abroad often. It was during this time that she actively advocated for marriage equality in the ELCA, continuing her dedication to social issues and perhaps most importantly reminding us that Jesus wanted us to love each other.
Her final church home was Piedmont Community Church.
Lois is survived by,
Her husband David,
Her children Darcell, Steven, and Stacy, Her stepchildren Jenny Reed,Michael Reed, Alex Reed
Her Grandchildren Amber, Jen, Shannon, Kenya, Jasmine, Jamelle,Dawnn, Mia, Ardiel and Step-grand children TJ, Quinn, Ryan,Aden, and Eden
Her Great Grandchildren Lazeija , Lamar, Sebastian, Jaidah, Aniya, Christian,Azalea ,Jonyah,Jozeryah, Arius, Kaylynn ,Vasili,Kaheem ,Mila, Adira, Nailah ,and Zahra
Her Great great grandchild Ronin
Siblings Darnell and Sandra
In Laws Cristina , Anthony, Tony, Donaldson, Joey
She is predeceased by…
-her daughter Christy
-her grandson Biancco
-her brother Clifton
-her brother Dennis
-her sister Beverly
-her sister Gale
-and her brother Michael
Visitation
JUNE 14. 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM (PST)
Chapel of the Chimes Oakland - Chimes Chapel
4499 Piedmont Ave
Oakland, CA 94611
Funeral Service
JUNE 15. 11:00 AM (PST)
Chapel of the Chimes Oakland - Chimes Chapel
4499 Piedmont Ave
Oakland, CA 94611
What’s your fondest memory of Lois?
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