Danette M. Reid

                                                   “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”

                                                                                                               - Psalm 116:15

For 53 years, 7 months and 26 days, Danette Michelle Reid walked among us. She made her magnificent entrance into the world on October 2, 1968, and transitioned to be with her Lord and Savior on May 28, 2022. Although we are grieving and are saddened by her physical departure, we know that a spirit as beautiful as hers is happy and resting well.

Danette is the second of three girls and was born in Wilmington, Delaware to James and Patricia Eastland. As the middle child, she proudly embraced her role as Chariesse’s little sister and Charlene’s big sister, calling them “her bookends.” She was raised with a strong faith in God and a great sense of family which became the foundation that catapulted her into a life filled with purpose.

She enjoyed her high school experience at the Howard Career Center in Wilmington, DE and was popular amongst her senior class… so much so that she was elected Vice President of her class and was voted Homecoming Queen. Unsurprisingly, Danette also achieved the academic honor of being named Valedictorian of the Class of 1986. With the drive to succeed, she enrolled into West Chester University where she would eventually meet the love of her life, George “Skip” Reid, Jr., whom she married in 1996. 

During her college years, Danette pledged Epsilon Phi, the city-wide chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and became a charter member of the Rho Alpha Chapter on West Chester’s campus. Danette forged friendships that would last her lifetime and extended her family beyond blood ties. She earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Business Management in 1990 from West Chester and received her Masters of Science degree in Organizational Leadership from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2014. Her capstone project was so powerful that she was asked serve as an adjunct professor there, and taught at PCOM since 2014.

Danette would consistently describe her husband as her “soul mate and best friend wrapped into one,” and her children as the biggest accomplishment she “will ever contribute to this world.” Living her joyous life as a wife and mother, Danette combined her academic background with her innate leadership and advocacy skills. She ran a successful State Farm Insurance Agency for over 21 years, and through it, she met the needs of many in the surrounding communities. Danette added her love for arts and crafts to her endeavors, authored and marketed two self-published books, created a successful card and stationery-gifts business, and built the non-profit called Reid Cares Foundation, Inc. to combat food insecurity on college campuses.

Anyone who's had the privilege of knowing her, loves her. Danette met her days with apparent and overt laughter and gratitude. She made us happy with her enthusiastic hugs, her love of games and her singing every word, to every song, on and off-key. Her confidence was magnetic and her smiles were so assuring. We soaked-in the gift she so generously gave of making people feel seen and blessed. She lived in her purpose every day and we are all better for it. As a friend to the friendless and a pure and beautiful soul, we thank God for the opportunity to have known Danette, before God saw it best to call her home.

Living in the legacy she has lain before us are her husband of 25 years, George “Skip” Reid, Jr.; her beloved daughter and “boobadoo”, Danaé Alexis Reid;  her Sonshine, George “Tre” Reid III; her parents, James and Patricia Eastland; her sisters, Chariesse Bond (Cecil), Charlene Cruz, Angelique Dennis, Erica Martin, and Alleronda Harris; her brother-in-law, the Honorable Scott W. Reid (Kimberly); seven nephews Durrell (Dominic), Gary, Brendon, Terry, Victor, Scott II; two nieces, Sydney and Kendyl; four godchildren, Mikey, Dontae, Jasmine and Nia; Mother-in-Law, Joan L. Reid; a host of Sorors, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Friends, extended family members, and her Salem Baptist Church of Abington and Saint Paul UAME Church of Wilmington, DE families as well.

                                         “There’s no such thing as failure, you either win or you learn something”

                                                                                  ~Danette Reid

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