Dr. Willie Mae Reed

Dr. Willie Mae Reed, the daughter of A.W. Wilson and Rosie Wilson, was born March 29, 1934 in Okmulgee, OK. She attended the Okmulgee Public School system, graduating from Dunbar High School May 20, 1953. Mother, as she was affectionately called, answered the call of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 10, 2019, at her residence in Des Moines, IA, at the age of 85 years, 2 months and 12 days.

Mother married her God-given soulmate and husband, the Late Presiding Bishop Jeremiah Reed, on August 2, 1953. From this love-at-first-sight union, they were blessed with four children: three sons, Jerry Lewis Reed, Michael Gerald Reed, Dwight Anthony Reed, and one daughter, Wilnetta (Craig) May.

Mother was saved in Des Moines, IA under the pastorate of the late District Elder Johnnie Waits, then moved to Omaha, NE in the early 1960's with her husband and became a faithful member of Greater Bethlehem Temple under the pastorate of the late District Elder James P. Foster. In November of 1969, her husband was sent by God to begin his pastoral ministry in Des Moines, IA and Mother Reed lovingly accompanied him. On June 8, 1970, he was officially installed as pastor with Mother right by his side.

Later that year, on October 4, 1970, Elder Reed relocated to 1278 East 18th Street with the members he had fathered in the gospel and continued with God's work under the banner of Calvary Church of God. In 1972, Elder Reed purchased his first school bus to help transport church members to services.

Bishop and Mother Reed are the founders of the following ministries: Christ Apostolic Temple, Inc. Fellowship Organization; Christ Apostolic Temple, Inc.; the Apostolic Oneness Network (television station); and the JW Reed Christian Academy. Mother was a steadfast, vigilant, and compassionate First Lady, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, auntie, teacher by example, and kindhearted friend to many saints, family members, and community members. Mother had many aspirations and she received her Doctorate Degree in Mobile, AL.

In Mother's earlier years, she would make clothes and cook, as she was always helping those who were less fortunate. Mother often put money in people's hand and assisted persons financially to attend conventions, councils, and conferences. She would visit those in the hospital and bring them food. There was nothing to compare to her sweet potato pies, cakes, and sweet desserts. Mother would participate in church fundraisers by baking and cooking. There was always a line to get her delicious finger licking food and dessert.

Mother would meet you where you were- whatever condition you were in and love you right there, whether good, bad, or ugly. She was a public speaker, teaching the young ladies and women to be holy, godly and modest in conduct, spirit, and attire. She led by example. Mother was a supporter of women being whole their marriage, which would in turn lead to healthy families. Mother, being a published author, wrote a book entitled "The Marriage Handbook" which would assist in building strong families.

The church prospered and grew and by 1974 the congregation was around 80 people. District Elder Reed began to search for a larger building that would adequately serve the growing congregation. District Elder Reed decided that building a church was the only alternative. With a little over $20,000 in the treasury, he purchased four wooded lots located on Sampson Street that resembled a small forest. Construction commenced with himself as contractor- assisted by Mother Reed, his son Michael, and congregation members. Mother Reed was working right by Elder Reed's side mixing mortar with a hoe and carrying concrete blocks to bring her husband's vision to pass. On March 1, 1975, he led the congregation into 1235 Sampson Street - a holy place of worship with a seating capacity of approximately 450 to 500. 

The late 1970's as we entered the electronic age, Dr. Reed's ministry was poised to extend the reach of the Apostolic gospel. To do so, in September 1977, he accessed the television media, appearing weekly on the local cable TV station. Dr. Reed and choir traveled weekly to a studio in northeast Des Moines to tape shows. During Dr. Reed's extensive broadcast ministry, God blessed him to preach locally on KCCI TV8 and KUCB 89.3 FM radio. For a period of time the Morris Brothers' broadcasting company taped live services at the Temple. Mother was right there standing by his side. In 1977 Dr. Reed and the choir recorded a gospel album. His message was, "The Eye Doctor Is Here." In 1979, the first Christ Apostolic Temple, Inc. diesel bus was purchased.

By June 1981, membership had risen to approximately 250, and the name of the church was officially changed from Calvary Church of God to Christ Apostolic Temple, Inc. (CAT). In November 1981, Dr. Reed decided it was time to build again with Mother right by his side. On May 25, 1982, Dr. Reed led an even larger and more overjoyed congregation into the present edifice, located at 1230 East 17th Street. This elegant structure, affectionately known as the Miracle Temple, has a seating capacity of approximately 1,000.

In 1982, the Diocesan Bishop of the Iowa-Nebraska-Wyoming Council, Bishop James E. Tyson of Indianapolis, IN, proposed to the Board of Bishops of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc, (PAW,) that the state of Wyoming be separated from Iowa and Nebraska requesting that Dr. Reed should be elevated to the office of Diocesan Bishop of Wyoming. On March 17, 1983, at the Mid-Winter Bishop Board Meeting Dr. Reed was elevated as Diocesan Bishop. He was officially installed at the PAW International Convention held in Milwaukee, WI, in August 1982.

In 1985, Bishop led the congregation in upgrading the Temple. Improvements included new carpeting, and refinishing the walls and pews.

Bishop Jeremiah Reed's ministry expanded. In 1986 the first outreach crusade was held in Keokuk, IA, and a church was established in that city. Mother Reed was by his side cooking for the saints who came down and knocked on doors to bring people to the service. Many souls were saved. What a joyous time that was!

This launched a series of promotions from the Temple in Des Moines of pastors and their wives developed under Bishop's fruitful ministry, to serve the souls of God's Apostolic vineyard in various cities and states.

Through the years churches were established in Ames, IA; Baton Rouge, LA; Blytheville, AR; Burlington, IA; Cedar Rapids, IA; Chicago, IL; Chicago Heights, IL; Columbia, MO; Des Moines, IA; Keokuk IA; Edwardsville, IL; Hannibal, MO; Independence, MO; Jefferson City, MO; Kansas City, KS; St. Louis, MO; Mason City, IA; Minneapolis, MN; Muscatine, IA; Olathe, KS; Ottumwa, IA; Fort Dodge, IA; Dubuque, IA; Kansas City, MO; Shreveport, LA, Springfield IL; and Tulsa, OK.

In March 1986, God used Bishop James E. Tyson again to carry out what God had declared from the beginning in His blueprints. Bishop Tyson proposed to the Board of Bishops that Bishop Reed's diocese be transferred to the Iowa-Nebraska District Council. The proposal was passed on June 17, 1986, and made official in August at the PAW International Convention in Detroit, MI.

In March 1988, the Wyoming Council was reunited with the Iowa-Nebraska District Council under his diocese. In addition to the continued growth of membership, new land was acquired to construct a large parking lot at the corner of East University Avenue and East 17th Street for the convenience of the membership and guests.

In September of 1987, Bishop Reed spearheaded a Mortgage Liquidation Fund drive which began on November 15, 1987 to pay off the new church mortgage. The final payment was made by September 27, 1988. A fifteen year mortgage had been paid off in six years- eight years and eleven months in advance!

Bishop and Mother founded the East Side Community Substance Abuse Center in 1987.

On August, 23, 1988 the 1235 Sampson Street Building was dedicated to Bishop and Mother Reed by the members and named the Bishop J. Reed and Mrs. Willie Mae Reed Fellowship Hall.

In 1988, he also appointed a committee to compile and edit "The Principles of the Apostolic Foundation". This book is a world-class Christian Education manual that remains to this day the standard for Apostolic doctrine and teaching for Sunday School curriculum and pastoral messages. This book was the first of many authored by Bishop and Mother. In addition, they authored the following books, "The Foundations That Have Been Destroyed", "Marriage Handbook", "Manual of Discipline" and the "Policies and Procedures Manual." In 1993, Bishop Jeremiah Reed purchased a cattle ranch in Okmulgee, OK where he owned over 300 head of cattle. It was a beautiful relaxing place, where Mother often showed her culinary skills when the saints came there. It was also a refuge for those who were having interpersonal difficulties to relax, meditate, commune with God and heal. In 1996, another parking lot was constructed on the north side of the church at 1230 East 17th Street to provide additional parking.

On October 11, 1997, God elevated Bishop to the office of Presiding Bishop of the Jesus Christ Apostolic Churches, Inc. The first organizational meeting was held in November 1997 in Shreveport, LA. Following the leading of God in March 2003, he resigned from this organization and founded a new organization named, Christ Apostolic Temple, Inc. Fellowship Organization (CATIF). The purpose of this organization is to unite churches of like faith that will stand for holiness and the unadulterated Apostolic Doctrine. This also included the Christ Apostolic Christian College, which served as an accredited educational seminary for the organization. The CATIF Organization is a thriving body today, thanks to Bishop and Mother's vision and obedience to God.

In 1999, a major renovation of the Temple was done for the second time, gutting the interior and adorning it with radiant Italian stone, royal blue carpeting, gold in-lay pews, and glittering chandeliers. This was the same year Bishop shepherded the construction of CATIF's headquarters building located at 1619 East University Avenue in Des Moines, IA.

At the beginning of the new century Bishop Jeremiah Reed continued to expand his Apostolic ministry beyond the scope of the local sanctuary. In July 2001, the television ministry, called "The Apostolic Way World Wide", began broadcasting Sunday morning services on local and national television.

As the Temple's television ministry grew, much hard labor and inestimable financial contributions were made by Bishop and Mother Reed. God directed the process that allowed the Temple to obtain a broadcasting license. This established the Apostolic Oneness Network (AON) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! The first live television broadcast on AON hit the airwaves in October 2005. God blessed the station to expand internationally, and services are now being aired in homes all around the world. One can now access the AON through an app with a monthly subscription.

The anointed ministry has greatly blessed families locally, nationally, and throughout the world. From the beginning Bishop was dedicated to a local hospital ministry, which has evolved into a sick and shut-in ministry overseen by the associate ministers. Mother Reed visited people in the hospital, sometimes bringing them her excellently cooked food.

Bishop, with Mother, have assisted families in relocating to Des Moines to help them in their walk with Christ; assisted churches and pastors with finances; and sent CAT altar workers on crusades to help souls receive the Baptism in Jesus name and the infilling of the Holy Ghost.

Their ministry included the development of several community programs: the Eastside Community Substance Abuse Center, tent meetings in the community; a Food Pantry program that donated free turkeys and food baskets over four decades; aiding members and the community with housing, rental assistance, employment; and donating automobiles to members and pastors. Their ministry has reached out to those who have been incarcerated through Prison Ministries, and aided others through the Youth Offender Program, in conjunction with the Polk County Court System. This program provided educational classes, life skills and mentors to first time offenders, who had an opportunity to have their record expunged. Many of these individuals who would have been statistics are now serving the Lord, and/or are upstanding men and women in society.

In the 2000's Bishop and Mother founded a K through 12 home school, now known as the JW Reed Christian Academy. During this decade CATIF reached out into foreign ministries which served souls in countries that included New Zealand, Kenya, South Africa, India, the Philippines, Malawi, Mozambique, Australia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sierra Leone. This evangelistic ministry consisted of starting, supporting, and building several churches nationally and internationally. He supplied food, laptops, equipment, financial support, clothing and vehicles for international churches. Other support included providing impoverished villages with generators for lighting, digging wells for water, supplying rice and food, providing various modes of transportation, and flying many pastors and their members from overseas to the U.S., and then providing lodging, thus enabling them to attend the organization's conventions. What a spiritual power couple Bishop and Mother made. Instead of complaining about the money and time her husband invested in God's work, Mother supported the work and his God given vision.

Bishop and Mother truly had a team ministry. They were committed to the saints, day and night, rain or shine. They led the way for the saints to travel to places they would have never seen before by way of chartering planes and purchasing two diesel buses and three fifteen passenger vans.

They both took their God-given jobs seriously, always guiding the saints to safety for the salvation of their souls. They were two leaders, constantly exhibiting love, strength, and compassion, embedded in the Apostolic Doctrine of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In sickness and health both Bishop and Mother were there for the saints, family, friends, and community.

Mother was an example of a truly supportive wife who blended her vision with that of her husband to ensure that God's will and work would be accomplished. She was a true example of a holy and virtuous woman.

She did not try to outshine her husband but worked with him as the infrastructure and love of his life. When it is said that behind every good man is a good woman, we that know Mother, know that indeed, that is true. She was the type of person who made you want to do better just by talking with her, watching her, and being in her presence.

Dr. Willie Mae Reed, was preceded in death by her parents, Rosie Wilson and A.W. Wilson, and 10 brothers and sisters, and her husband, The Honorable Presiding Bishop Jeremiah Reed, Des Moines, IA and son, Michael Gerald Reed.

She is survived by children, Jerry Lewis Reed, Des Moines, IA; Wilnetta(Craig) May, Des Moines, IA and Tamara Alise Reed, Des Moines, IA; grandchildren, Jermaine LaSean (Dominika) Reed, Kissimmee, FL, Panacha LaShay (Grant IV) Townsell, Des Moines, IA, Damien Reed, Indianapolis, IN, Monica Alise Reed-Teague, Des Moines, IA, Erica (Fred Jones) Reed, Des Moines, IA, Veronica Ann Reed, Des Moines, IA, Tiffany Shante May, Houston, TX, Jeremiah Brian (Melinda) May, Houston, TX, Teodora Reed, Dallas, TX, Jasmine Marie (Terrence G.) Vinson, Dallas, TX; sister, Velma Hall, Colorado Springs, CO; and brother Johnny Wilson, Okmulgee, OK.; great-grandchildren, Brittney Marie Reed, Milla Roxanne Reed, Baylen A. Reed, Karisma Mae Wright, AliseTownsell, Grant Townsell V, Jasmine Reed, Daisha Alise Hambrick, Tamera Rose Davis, MyKail Dena Mae Sheree' Reed, Chloe May, Caden May, Cace May, Alexanderia D. Reed, Day Vonna H. Reed, Naszir C. Lamar, Jazlynn Micah Lewis, Jacobe Isaac Vinson and Jada Willie Mae Vinson; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, friends, loved ones and members of Christ Apostolic Temple, Inc., the Christ Apostolic Temple, Inc. Fellowship Organization and the Apostolic Oneness Network family.