Barbara Reed

Reed, Barbara Mae Barbara Mae Reed, age 87, passed away July 26, 2022 at her home in Kalamazoo. She was born May 21, 1935 in Lafayette, Indiana to the late William and Margaret (Holmes) Barnes. Barbara was a gifted educator, a devoted friend and a loving mother and grandmother. She graduated from Western Michigan University in 1957 and began a career as an elementary school teacher, first in Gross Pointe then Kalamazoo Public Schools. Before retiring in 1997, she spent 20 years as a kindergarten teacher at Northglade Elementary, teaching (until the last few years) classes of almost exclusively African-American children from Kalamazoo's Northside neighborhood. She distinguished herself as an educator by her uncanny ability to teach children from all backgrounds to read before they entered first grade, instilling in them a love of learning and a belief in their own abilities. Surrounded by an education system that is often defined by its constantly shifting theories of teaching, Barbara had a single strategy for success with her students when asked how, year after year, she could turn out a class of competent readers her answer was simple: she believed in them and taught them to believe in themselves. Simply put, she was a quiet pioneer in the social justice imperative of rejecting the soft racism of low expectations. Her reputation was such that Michigan's governor visited her classroom to observe effective teaching. Even after retiring, she devoted energy to reading to classrooms and mentoring young teachers. Her mark was clearly left on hundreds of Kalamazoo's early learners. Barbara was active in Delta Zeta sorority when at Western and was elected to Mortar Board. She was a founding parishioner of St. Martin of Tours (Episcopal) in Kalamazoo and was a devoted friend to a tight group of educators (especially her beloved Shirleys (Ford and Tyndall who left us too soon, and Thompson, who was there for Barbara to the end). She loved a laugh with the "boutique ladies" she bonded with at Steinmart, where she worked (and mostly shopped!) after leaving teaching. She loved dancing with Francis, collecting antiques, pulling weeds, the theater and a good laugh. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Norman Barnes. She is survived by her sons, Bradford (Brenda) Reed of Gobles and Kevin Reed (Maggie Morrisette) of Springfield, Oregon; grandchildren Hannah, Ezekiel, and Finnian Reed; beloved friend and dance partner Francis; and loving community of the "over-the-hill" gang. A memorial service will be held September 6 at 2:00 pm at St. Martin of Tours Episcopal Church, 2010 Nichols Rd, Kalamazoo, MI 49004. She will be laid to rest in the columbarium at the church. Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Barbara to the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative, Kalamazoo, (https://elnckzoo.org/), an organization working to change the lives of Kalamazoo's most vulnerable children through education. Please visit Barbara's personalized online guestbook at https://www.langelands.com