Obituary of Catherine E Neal-Reid

It all began on November 25, 1927 when Etta Lou Frances Thompson gave birth at Cooper Hospital, Camden, NJ. It was a girl! She named her Catherine Elizabeth. With sandy-colored pigtails flying in the wind, she romped the streets of the city and grew into a lovely, quiet young lady. Catherine attended Whittier Elementary School, Hatch Junior High, and graduated from Camden High School in the class of 1947. She had one brother, the late William Leroy Thompson. As we look back, it is evident that God had a plan for Catherine’s life. As a child she was stricken with a simultaneous bout of diphtheria and scarlet fever, then was struck by a truck while skating. One of her pregnancies nearly ended her life. However, she survived all of these traumas. Catherine had many and varied interests and talents. In high school she played intramural basketball and loved to draw. With her family she played board games; Going to Jerusalem was one of her favorites. She could win a game of jacks in 1-2 turns. She read nearly every book in the “Left Behind” series; she developed a love for word find puzzles. Catherine’s favorite things included chocolate, shrimp, traveling, eating out, shopping, and the color pink. She also enjoyed crocheting and interior decorating. Somewhere along the line she took piano lessons and learned to read sheet music, but also taught herself to plunk by ear, and later to “tickle the keys” of an electronic keyboard she bought for herself as a senior citizen. In her early years, Catherine attended Friendship Baptist Church and Mt. Calvary COGIC. At age 15 she accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior and joined Faith Holy Temple (FHT) COGIC under the pastorate of Elder Benjamin Troupe Morris. At FHT she sang in the Junior and Senior Choirs, as well as with a group called “The Templettes”. While vacationing in Delaware with her friends “Wese” (Mother Eloise Twyne) and “Tillie” (the late Mother Matilda Haywood-Johnson), Catherine was introduced to Tillie’s cousin “Fan” (Elder Haywood Nathaniel Neal). On March 15,1947 Catherine and Fan were married at Faith Holy Temple COGIC. Unknown to Catherine at the time, she was destined to become what she always wanted never to be—a preacher’s wife. After spending time in Delaware and Pennsylvania, the couple established roots in Camden, NJ and later moved to Willingboro, NJ. The union of Haywood and Catherine produced four daughters, yet this loving mother opened her heart to the addition of a son, who came to live with them when he was 18 years old. Catherine often sacrificed her own needs and desires to satisfy those of her children. She was a dedicated mother and was present in the lives of her children, although she worked outside the home. Her employment history included stints as cashier, salesperson, factory worker, teacher’s aide, domestic, presser, trimmer, etc. As a wife, Mrs. Neal stuck by her husband’s side as he moved through the ranks of increasing responsibility in his secular job and in the church world, supporting his visions, and encouraging his ventures, through the thick and through the thin. If a marriage was ever made in heaven, this one was. With a kiss she heralded her husband’s departure and greeted his return. She was meticulous in caring for him, making sure that his meals were prepared, his clothing was clean and pressed, and his children were “ready for prime time”. When Elder Haywood Neal became the pastor of Faith Holy Temple, she became a model pastor’s wife, whose diligent service and faithfulness earned respect and adoration from her congregation as well as from her spouse. At some point during this period she was licensed as a Deaconess Missionary. Always together, Cat and Fan had many adventures and enjoyed a warm relationship. In 1988 after 41 years of marriage, her Prince Charming went home to be with the Lord. This experience left a valiant woman broken-hearted, lonely and lost. But, God had another assignment for Catherine. Destined to be a preacher’s wife, she married Elder Elijah Alexander Reid, moved to Cherry Hill, NJ and became first lady at Greater Mount Carmel COGIC in Berlin, NJ. When Elder Reid was promoted to District Superintendent of the Camden District, Catherine became a Superintendent’s wife, and later served as Co-Chair of the First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction’s Superintendent’s Wives auxiliary. In annexing “Reid” to her name, Catherine added 12 more arrows to her quiver of five. “A dynamite cook”, “A good listener”, “Best friend”, “An ever-ready chauffer”, “There when you needed her” are all phrases that her children have used to describe her. As if 17 children were not enough, she embraced other men and women who “adopted” her as “Mom”, gravitating to her wisdom, generosity, and sense of humor. Among them were: Dr. Cornelius Evans, Dorothy Jean McNeil, and Roxanne Wilcox. She never seemed to run out of love. Mother Catherine proved her devotion to Elder Reid for 14 years. As his health began to fail, she appointed herself chauffeur, chef, doctor, and head nurse, making sure that he received the best of care round the clock. When Elder Reid went to be with the Lord in 2003, Catherine returned to her roots at Faith Holy Temple. Although a seasoned senior citizen, she was still active in the work of the church and attended services regularly. Mother Neal-Reid loved things to look good and believed that God’s house deserved the best. She donated her time and her money to church beautification projects, and sometimes served as the project manager, while making generous personal donations of time and money to the cause. In 2015, Mother Reid moved her membership to Faith Worship Center under the umbrella of Working in the Faith Outreach Ministries (WFOM) and the pastorate of her son-in-law Servant Darin Holland. She was an ardent supporter of WFOM and as a part of that ministry continued to make personal sacrifices to advance the WFOM mission and vision; she was subsequently named Church Mother of that congregation. Catherine was a trustworthy friend, a gracious hostess, an accomplished cook, and a skillful interior decorator. She opened her home and her heart to many souls just passing through. She never boasted about her good deeds, but quietly did what she felt needed to be done, with wisdom, poise, determination, and courage. Even with all of her wife/mother/homemaker responsibilities and the responsibilities of employment outside the home, she still found time to work in local, district and jurisdictional church auxiliaries. Pulpit Committee, Pastor’s and Minister’s Wives Circle, Usher Board, Decorating Committee, Senior Choir, Sunday School, Hospitality, Mother’s Board were among the many in which she took part. In 2015 Catherine suffered a stroke and required round the clock companionship and hands on care in order to remain in her home. Although with less vigor, she continued to be committed to the work of the Lord and attended church services faithfully until she became physically unable to do so. On the morning of Thursday, October 22, 2020 God called Catherine from labor to reward at her residence in Mt. Laurel, NJ. Catherine Elizabeth Thompson Neal Reid aka Mom, Mom-Mom, Grand mom, G-G-Mom, Cat, Buff, Diva and Mother Neal-Reid will be sorely missed. Her wisdom, love, faithfulness, sense of humor, and her gifts of helpfulness and discernment will live on in the hearts and minds of those whose paths intersected with hers. She was a fine example of Christianity, womanhood, and dignity. Today her children are rising to call her blessed and her works are praising her. To cherish her memory she leaves her four daughters: Carolyn James (Thearian), Sharon Wedington (Dennis), Debra Moody (Kerry), and Lisa Holland (Darin); thirteen children through marriage: Shelton Neal (Mary), Elijah Reid, Jr., Harold Reid, Brenda Dayne, Marilyn Hill (Harold), Robert Reid (Deborah), Ronald Reid, Mark Reid (Carolyn), Pamela Reid-Reed, Marianne Jones (Woody), Cheryl Scott, Eric Reid (Tonya), Susie Reid; 36 grandchildren; 88 great grandchildren; 23 great-great grandchildren; an “adopted” sister: Eloise Keys Twyne; church congregations at Faith Holy Temple, Camden, NJ, Greater Mt. Carmel, Berlin, NJ, and Working in the Faith Outreach Ministries, Pennsauken, NJ; nieces, nephews, cousins, and an unnumbered host of friends. Rejoicingly submitted, Her Family In lieu of flowers please send donations to Working In The Faith Outreach Ministries (WFOM),PO Box 2334, Willingboro, NJ 08046.