Obituary of Adessa Reid

Adassa Reid, nee Cole, was born in Kingston, St. Andrew, Jamaica on February 20, 1923, the daughter of the late Mabel Sterling Cole and David Cole. She had two brothers, one of whom predeceased her, and the other Clifford Cole who resides in Chicago, Illinois. Her sister, Deloris Cole Edwards, predeceased her. She was affectionately known as "Thin/Tin" because she was slim as a girl and continued to be called "Aunt Tin" by her Jamaican friends, nieces and nephews. Adassa married the late Altamont Reid, Sr. and migrated to the United States to join him there in the 1950's where after residing temporarily in New Jersey and Wisconsin, they settled in Amityville, Long Island, New York. While Adassa was trained as a seamstress in Jamaica, upon coming to the U.S. she did domestic work until she became a nurse's aide at Brunswick General Hospital's Nursing Home Facilities, a position from which she retired. She also graduated from the Bethel Bible College in Queens, New York and was ordained as an Evangelist. She served with her husband at the church he founded and pastored, the International Evangelistic Revival Center in Amityville. She was hard working and frugal and instilled these values in her children. She was a disciplinarian and straightforward, as she loved to say, she did not bite her tongue. She was a good story teller and would relate the family history and experiences upon coming to the United States. Adassa was an encourager and was there for her children and grandchildren and would admonish them to get a good education. She took pride in seeing her children and grandchildren succeed and insisted on bestowing the respect of title to "Dr. Reid" her grandson known otherwise as Offie. She loved to sing her favorite hymns and to keep informed on news, finances, and medical matters through her favorite radio and television shows. Evangelist Adassa Reid leaves behind all of her living children Carlotta Birthwright, Rudolph (Johnsie), Ofrona, Sr. (Sadie), Loretta Pitt (Keith), Altamont, Jr., Clifford, Wendell and David ( Jacqueline), 22 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, and 6 great great grandchildren. Also leaves to mourn Brother Clifford Cole, Sister-in-Law Euclin Baker, and devoted cousin Dr. Veronica Henry and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Adassa, Mom, Mother Reid was a stalwart in her family and will be forever cherished and missed.