Biography: Gracie Elizabeth Reid entered the world on April 20, 1932. She was the youngest of three children born to David and Grace Reed in Clemson, South Carolina. She received her education in South Carolina.
In 1955, Gracie and her daughter, Lillian Helen, relocated to New York to be closer to her two sisters, Margaret Helen and Lillian Yvonne. She resided in Brooklyn until 1972 when she moved to Queens, N.Y., and in 1974 welcomed her granddaughter, Nicole L. Jordan, into her life.
During her years in Brooklyn, she attended the Bethany Baptist church and enjoyed a social life filled with love and laughter shared with her family and friends.
She was employed by Bellevue hospital, where she completed forty-two years of service in 1995 and reluctantly retired. During her employment, she developed many friendships, many of which remain to this day and those she now considers much more than friends.
She loved to travel and experience new places and sample new restaurants. She eagerly anticipated attending the family reunion every other year. Gracie enjoyed the theatre. She also spent many hours reading and working on crossword puzzles. She loved listening to music, especially gospel music, as she prepared food for her family and completed her
daily tasks.
In 1977, Gracie joined The Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York, and her heart filled with pride every time she was asked what church she attended. She was overjoyed that her granddaughter was one of the students of the very first graduating class of the Allen A.M.E. Christian School. Each year, Gracie anxiously awaited preparing for the Women's Conference, and until illness prevented her travel, she happily attended at least six.
Gracie leaves to cherish her memory: her daughter, Lillian; granddaughter Nicole; niece, Constance and her great-nieces and nephews: Brian, Michelle, Ashley, Brandon, Savion, and Londyn; her "adopted children," Dena, Anita, Olive, June, Beverly, Jacob, Walter, Brandon and "adopted granddaughters," Krystina, Jeanine, Skye and Lisa.
