REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF

Mr. Herman Edward Reid Jr.

December 20, 1935 – July 13, 2026

Mr. Herman Edward Reid Jr. lived a life defined by strength, discipline, faith, education, service, family, and an enduring commitment to helping others become more than they believed they could be.

Born on December 20, 1935, in Cedartown, Georgia, Herman was the son of Herman Edward Reid Sr. and Beatrice Caslin New. The eldest of eight children, he demonstrated from an early age the determination, athletic ability, intelligence, and strength of character that would shape his remarkable 90 years of life.

Herman attended Cedar Hill High School during the era of segregated education in Georgia. With a love of science and sports, he became an exceptional student-athlete. He played football from 1950 through 1953 and helped Cedar Hill win state championships in 1951 and 1953. His accomplishments attracted attention beyond Cedartown and opened opportunities to play at the highest levels.

His journey led him to Morris Brown College in Atlanta, where he continued to distinguish himself on the football field from 1954 through 1957. Known as a powerful, hard-hitting fullback and nicknamed “Flash,” Herman earned multiple All-City honors and was later inducted into the Morris Brown College Athletic Hall of Fame. He also excelled academically, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics.

Herman later served his country in the United States Army, including service in Germany. While stationed in Europe, he continued playing football as a member of a military team that competed against other military units. His service reflected qualities evident throughout his life: discipline, responsibility, teamwork, and perseverance.

Football remained an open door, and Herman had opportunities to pursue the professional game. But when the time came to determine the direction of his life, he made a choice that would affect generations:

He chose education.

Herman began his teaching career at the Georgia School for the Deaf in Cave Spring, Georgia, in 1961. After teaching there through 1962, he came to Albany in 1963 and began teaching Chemistry and Physics at Monroe High School. Generations of students knew him as a demanding but deeply committed teacher. For Herman, education was never simply about passing a class. It was about preparation for life.

His commitment to learning extended to his own education. In 1974, he earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Georgia, reflecting his lifelong belief in the transformative power of higher education.

Herman’s influence extended far beyond the classroom. He began coaching in 1963, served for many years as an assistant football coach at Monroe High School, and later became Head Wrestling Coach, serving from 1984 until his retirement from Monroe in 2001. His athletes learned more than technique and competition. They learned discipline, accountability, perseverance, and how to carry themselves with dignity.

Herman was recognized for excellence as an educator, including being named Teacher of the Year at Monroe High School and receiving STAR Teacher recognition. His career also included service at Westover High School and Albany High School. Even after retiring from Monroe, Herman was not finished educating children. In 2003, he returned to education as a science paraprofessional at Radium Springs Elementary School, where he continued working with young people until 2013.

Across decades of educational service, Herman taught, coached, encouraged, challenged, and influenced generations of young people. Many remembered the chemistry and physics lessons. Others remembered the wrestling practices and football fields. But even more remembered the man—his expectations, discipline, quiet strength, and belief that they were capable of more.

At the center of Herman’s life was his family. He shared his life with his beloved wife, Rebecca Farris Reid, and together they built a home grounded in love, education, discipline, faith, and commitment. Their family legacy continued through their four children—the “Four M’s”: Michael Edward Reid; Michele Bernita Reid-Vazquez and her husband, José Vazquez; Mabel Rebecca Reid; and Maurice Herman Reid and his wife, Mary Lou Reid.

Herman taught his children by the example of his own life: work hard, continue learning, honor your commitments, stand strong, and take care of your family.

His legacy continued through his grandchildren: Simone Reid, Desmond Reid, Maliq Reid, Evan Vazquez, Reid “Alej” Vazquez, and Alexis Jones. To them, his life was not merely history. He was Granddaddy.

Herman’s life was also grounded in faith and service. A longtime member of the Episcopal Church, he worshipped at St. John’s Episcopal Church and later St. John & St. Mark Episcopal Church in Albany. He served for many years as a Lay Reader and on the vestry at St. Mark’s, participating actively in the worship and life of the church.

He was also a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., affiliated with the Beta Nu Sigma Chapter in Albany, Georgia.

As the eldest of eight children, Herman remained part of a large and enduring family. He leaves to cherish his memory his seven younger siblings and their spouses: Herbert Gary Reid and Deborah Lynn Orr Reid; Leonard Reid and Jewel Reid; Ronald Reid; Kenneth Ray Reid and Betty Reid; Marilyn Edmondson; Joan Reid Whitehead, widow of Ben Whitehead; and Jannelle Reid Smith and Thomas James Smith. Herman was the first of the eight siblings to depart this earthly life.

Born in the segregated South in 1935, Herman lived through extraordinary changes in American history. He excelled in athletics, earned college and graduate degrees, served his country, became an educator, coached champions, raised a family, and helped each generation that followed him reach farther than the generation before.

His life became its own lesson: strength does not always need to announce itself; leadership is often demonstrated through consistency; education can change the direction of a family; and a life devoted to others can continue speaking long after the voice itself has grown quiet.

On July 13, 2026, at the age of 90, Herman Edward Reid Jr. completed his earthly journey.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, children, grandchildren, siblings and their spouses, extended family, former students and athletes, fraternity brothers, church family, colleagues, neighbors, friends, and the countless people whose lives were touched by his presence.

The measure of his life cannot be contained between two dates. It lives in the students who learned in his classrooms, the athletes he coached, the family he built, and the generations who carry his lessons, strength, and example forward.

Herman Edward Reid Jr. lived 90 remarkable years. His work is complete. His lessons remain. His legacy lives on.