Arthur Reed

ARTHUR: [ahr-ther]; Origins: English, Celtic, African
Meanings: King; Strong; Warrior; Fierce

Arthur Reed hailed from Camden, South Carolina. Born on January 20, 1938, to Leo Reed, Sr.
and Gussie Harrison Reed, he was the middle child of three boys, older brother Leo, Jr. and
younger brother John Henry. Arthur gleaned from his parents the importance of family, and that
significance would remain at the forefront of everything Arthur would do. When asked recently,
what would be some things he would miss most should he no longer be able to do them,
Arthur replied, “spending time with my family…and traveling with my wife.”

Speaking of his wife, Arthur first laid eyes on Ernestine’s bright smile when they were children.
At ten-years-old, she would come down from New York to spend summers visiting her
grandmother, Beulah, in Camden. Together, Art, aged eleven, and Ernie would play in the
southern cotton fields and pick the fluffy cotton.

Arthur attended school in Camden where the handsome teen was crowned Homecoming King,
class of 1957 at Jackson High School. After graduating, Art joined his childhood sweetheart,
Ernestine, in New York where they married on February 21, 1959.

Quickly, the newlyweds decided to follow their favorite uncle and aunt, George and Eloise,
West to California. They bravely drove across country with their first-born, Robin, in the
backseat of a ‘57 Buick, using the “Green Book” to map their journey. The trek through
Sundown towns during the Jim Crow era was one Arthur remembered vividly and still had a
few keepsakes from.

After a couple of years in Venice, CA, and the birth of daughter Donna, Arthur would
courageously lead his young family across town during the Watts Uprising of ‘65 to their new
home in Mid City LA. Soon after, daughter Andrea and only son, Arthur Doran, would join the
Reeds, rounding out the first Black family on the block.

Arthur would make time to study and graduate from Los Angeles Trade Technical College and
went to work as an engineer at Aeroquip Corporation for over two decades. Loyal to a fault,
Arthur would only change jobs when the company moved to Georgia. He was immediately
offered a position at Northrop Grumman Corporation in El Segundo, CA. where he stayed for
another decade. Arthur would retire from his engineering career but was never one to be still
for too long. He would come out of retirement to continue his love of service and gift for
gardening by becoming the beloved Plant Manager at several elementary schools on the west
side of LA. Always seeing the beauty in the small things, Arthur would often bring home
abandoned art projects created by students.

Arthur loved to fish, a passion and skill he learned from his father as a child. But his favorite
pastime was truly and simply spending time with his family. He loved to travel and he loved the
outdoors. Each summer, Art would gather the family in the Great Green Van for vacations,
camping across the United States and Canada. He also loved to visit Jamaica, feeling he was
“home” each time. He'd say it was a place “where you could live off the fat of the land, fish and
never be hungry.”

Art’s other passion - BOWLING - never wavered. In fact, he was a Champion Bowler and
participated in various leagues. Few things got in the way of his bowling and he was eager to
teach anyone interested. Many a perfect game he humbly bragged about. Arthur was a diehard
LA Lakers fan. Back in the day you would find him glued to the tv or listening on his transistor
radio to the great Chick Hearn, commentating a Lakers’ basketball game. He proudly
experienced “Showtime” of the 80’s, watched Kobe Bryant and most recently LeBron James
work their way into the history books. Often he enjoyed watching and critiquing, the Lakers
with “the guys,” Doran, Alan and Noah.

Few know that Arthur was also an actor and appeared in the film “Panther” in 1995. He
became an active member of Screen Actors Guild and was part of the SAG Awards nominating
committee. As with everything he set his heart to do, Arthur’s spirit of
excellence was on display while a part of the committee as he diligently attended screenings
and viewed each dvd he received before casting his votes!

But more than anything was Arthur’s devotion to Ernestine, the love of his life. When they didn’t
disappear on day trips or long weekends, you could find them taking daily walks through the
Japanese Garden at Kenneth Hahn Park. Art was usually carrying his fishing pole to stop and
catch the fish that he would then throw back into the lake.

Arthur was a writer, an artist, and a poet. He could carve anything from any kind of material. He
had a company, ARTS KRAFT, where he was commissioned by multiple people to create,
among other things, hand crafted chess sets forged from metal.

Keeping up with the times – and his grandkids – Arthur became a master at texting. Daily, he
would send messages via the family group chat sharing stories, prayers and anecdotes,
imparting wisdom and funny jokes. All with lots of emojis!

He loved music, dancing and laughing. You could always find Art listening to his treasured
three - Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye and Richard Pryor. Arthur took great pride in the individuality
and accomplishments of his children and grandchildren,. He always made time for art shows
and school games, lent a handy hand on building decks and doghouses and he saved, framed
and archived EVERYTHING.

On Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at the age of 85, our King, Fierce Protector, and now SUPER
ANGEL made his transition. Arthur was at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by family-
Exactly the way he wanted.

Arthur’s greatest gift was love and he, along with his cherished Ernestine, built a legacy of love
that he instilled in the lives of his children. That love has passed on to family, friends and
anyone who has come in proximity to this great man.

Arthur leaves a loving family; childhood sweetheart and adored wife of 64 years, Ernestine
Reed, four children, daughters Robin Lynn Reed, Donna Renee Reed, and Andrea Lisa Reed
Elmore, son Arthur Doran Reed, seven grandchildren, Noah Simeon Humes, Summer Reed
Humes, Tyler Ariana Mornéy, Phineas McKinley Elmore, Doran Caiden Reed, Roxi Grace Reed,
Nixon Dean Reed, Calliope Mattoon Reed, and son-in-law, Alan Fitzgerald Elmore.

He is preceded in death by father, Leo Reed, Sr., mother, Gussie Harrison Reed, Grandmother
Laura Harrison, brothers, Leo Reed, Jr., and John Henry “Sonny” Reed. Arthur leaves a host of
relatives in South Carolina, New Jersey and New York, dear friends aka Framily and the many
souls he touched and effected during his time here on earth.
Rest Well, Arthur, Daddy, Grandpa, Uncle, Cousin, Art, Mr. Reed.

A life well lived.

A LEGACY OF LOVE FOREVER.