Retha "Jo" Joan Reid

Retha J. “Jo” Reid, 74, of Edwardsburg, MI and Arcadia, FL, passed away peacefully following a sudden illness at her Florida home on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020 at 5:15 am.  She was born Apr. 8, 1945 in Rector, AR to the late William T. and Verlie (Meredith) Stanford. She married George P. Reid, Sr. in South Bend on Valentine’s Day, 1973.  He passed away in their home in 2011.

She left behind her partner and best friend, Michael “Mike” Bastin, and 4 children, Rebecca D. “Becky” (Rev. Mike) Sommer and Joseph (Tammy) Reid, both of Elkhart, George (Melanie) Reid, Jr. of Edwardsburg, MI and James “Jim” (Kristine “Kris”) Reid of White Pigeon, MI; two brothers, Melvin (Carol) Frost and Ronald Burdin; a sister Brenda Leonard; 17 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. A son, Steven Nelson, and a grandson, Cody Reid, preceded Jo in death.

Billings Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Elkhart are hosting Jo’s Celebration of Life services on Friday, Jan. 31, 2020 at 1:00 pm, with visitation beginning at 12 noon. Jo’s son-in-law, the Rev. Mike Sommer, Senior Pastor of the Jimtown Family Church of the Nazarene, will officiate and burial will follow at Adamsville Cemetery near Edwardsburg, MI.

Retha was a homemaker the majority of her life. No matter what she did, she always maintained an air of lady-like poise and style. She and her husband built their home of 45 years from the ground up. She always kept it neat as a pin. She also loved flowers and her gardens. Although a bit shy when she was younger, her greatest love over the years had evolved to become singing karaoke. Jo far surpassed the average, “run-of-the-mill” Saturday night barroom-style karaoke and took it to a level of a professional cover band style that would have made even the lip-syncing Milli Vanilli proud. Her ability to sing and enjoy music allowed her to become the outgoing, fun-loving and full of life gal that her snowbird friends had come to know and love. Throughout the years, Jo also loved camping, line-dancing, picking blackberries for cobbler and crocheting complicated doilies. Her "world-famous” sweet tea was what all her family looked forward to. She earned, learned and lived the role “Mom” through love, patience and perseverance. This template of loving, enduring care is what has left the deepest impression on her children.

On-line condolences may reach the family by visiting the funeral home’s website. Memorial donations may be given to the local Hospice organization of your choice.

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