About the Author

To God be the glory for blessing me to retire from the City of Richmond Fire Department on February 1st, after working a life career of over 31 years.

I didn’t know when I would retire — only God knew — and that day has such value, and God called it with that in mind. It was the day that my beloved grandmother, Mama Sadie, was born, and she lived to be 108 years old.

I remember telling her after I graduated early from Central High that I would never be the first in anything. I learned later to have those words come back as I became the first African American woman in the Richmond Fire Department: Firefighter, Fire Inspector, Chief Officer, and the only Deputy Fire Marshal on the West Coast, and received a scholarship in my name from the Richmond Youth Academy.

February 1st was my daughter’s and my cousin’s daughter’s birthday — both born on Mama Sadie’s birthday — and it was the first day of Black History Month.

God has allowed me to speak and receive awards at many venues such as the NAACP (Omaha branch), LEAP graduation, My Sister’s Keeper, Lawrence Livermore Lab, etc. Awards include the Martin Luther King Humanitarian, Proclamations (just to mention a few), in spreading the gospel about what you do for Christ will last.

I represented the battered/abused wife, single struggling parent while trying to be in an environment that wasn’t set up for a short, African American woman who left the telephone company (directory assistance), to want a better life for my daughters and son — Shanta, Sheree, and Alan.

There were struggles, but God provided me with angels such as retired Chief Johnny Crain who pushed me and shoved me to keep moving — and crying wasn’t my option. God didn’t stop there; He blessed me with more brothers and their families who took me into their embrace.

I’m thankful for my great-grandmother Mommy and my grandmother Mama Sadie for their strength and words of wisdom, and my parents Edward and Shirley Reed, my brother Sonny, and my family for supporting me through my struggles — and for the strength not only from them but the village of support with much love, shoulders to lean on, and a smile to support their hugs.

Thank you, City of Richmond employees and community, for embracing me with so much love and acceptance for over 31 years and letting me know how proud you were of me — that meant so much.

So many friends turned into my cousins (smile) and family. You are forever in my memories and will always be embraced in my heart.