Doris Lee Reed

On January 7, 2021, God in His infinite wisdom deemed it necessary to call from our midst His servant, Doris Lee Gillian Reed, so we bow in humble submission to His will and pause to reflect upon the life, death, and resurrection of our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt, Mrs. Doris Lee Gillian Reed.

Doris Lee was born on September 17, 1936 in Ironton, Texas to the late Buster and Bessie (Canady) Gillian. She accepted Christ at an early age. Doris would spend her adolescent years in Jacksonville, Texas before moving to Dallas as an early teen with her family. She attended public schools in Jacksonville and Dallas, Texas.

In Dallas is where she met the love of her life, Clarence Edward Reed, whom she married on December 11, 1953. They were married 40 years until the Lord called him home. To this union they were blessed with four girls, Gwendolyn Joyce, Vicki Rochelle, Felicia Renee, and Guashuana Lazette. After the passing of her mother, Doris took in her youngest sister (Ruth Helen).

A proud woman with a vision led her to own/operate, along with husband “Reed’s Beauty Supply,” one of the first in south Dallas. A business that grew to have three locations, one in south Dallas, Pleasant Grove and Oakcliff. Doris was a licensed Texas Realtor, working for Century 21, Remax, Coldwell Bankers and “C” Dallas Realty, specializing on the sale of HUD properties. She also obtained her CDL license. When most women would be rocking grandbabies, she was driving tour buses across the country and then later school buses. She retired after working 14 years for Dallas County Schools.

Doris never let her age touch her. She was vibrant, energetic, independent, free spirited and one who took pride in her appearance. She often surprised us with her youthful and iconic sense of style. She showed her strength as she fought her battle with cancer. She never complained and approached each challenge positively until the end. As the matriarch of the family the love she shared, the lessons taught and the life she lived will never be forgotten. She was a member of True Lee Missionary Baptist Church and also attended St. Andrew Missionary Baptist Church.

She is preceded in death by her father and mother; husband Clarence, daughter Gwen; one sister Gloria; four brothers Carvin, Robert Buster (RB), Davis Lee, and Frenchelle. She leaves to cherish her memories three daughters Vicki Reed Cole (Anthony); Felicia Reed Podraza (David); and Guashuana Reed; granddaughters Margeret, Sabina, Temesha, Ieshia, Kionia and Gabriella; great-grandchildren Jordyn, Johnny and King, two sisters Jerline Morning, and Ruth Hellen Smith (Michael), along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.