The Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education passed a resolution Monday in honor of the late John A. Reed Jr., a longtime minister and civil rights leader hailed by Mayor David Holt as one of the most impactful residents in the city’s history.
Reed, who died on Aug. 26 , served Fairview Baptist Church in northeast Oklahoma City for over 61 years.
Board Chair Paula Lewis said she and district Superintendent Jamie Polk shared a meal with Reed just a few days before he died. Lewis said Reed used his well-known catchphrase, “Let’s go to work,” when their time together ended that day.
“To see him was to see greatness and to know his passion for this city and his passion for this district,” Lewis said.
More: Community says farewell to longtime preacher and civil rights activist at memorial service
Board member Mike Shelton, who once served as a state representative, noted that few people seeking elected office in Oklahoma City succeeded without the support of Reed.
“He was very inspirational to me,” Shelton said, noting Reed’s influence in his election.