On May 23, 2018, the world lost an incredible soul, my mother, Leila Fay Reid. I want to honor the life she lived, the love she gave, and the person she was. If I had to choose one word to describe my mom, it would be “selfless.” Everything she did, every choice she made, was for the sake of her family.
Mom was the kind of person who always seemed to know what you needed before you even had to ask. Whether it was making sure our school supplies were bought before the first day of school or noticing when we were feeling down and offering just the right words to lift us up, she had an intuitive way of caring for everyone around her. Her attention to detail was one of her most beautiful traits—she made sure we always felt loved, supported, and understood. She had this incredible gift of making you feel special, as if you were the most important person in her world, even on the most ordinary of days. Mom taught us the value of kindness, the importance of looking out for one another, and most of all, how to love deeply and without hesitation.
Though my heart aches every day from her absence, I find peace in knowing that her spirit lives on in all of us. My mom was more than just the sum of her actions—she was love in human form, and I see pieces of her in each of her grandchildren, in my sister Crystal, and even in myself. She was the best mom we could have asked for.
That’s why, even though her life was tragically cut short by a distracted driver, I choose to focus on all the ways she made the world a better place while she was here. By sharing her story, I hope to help prevent other families from experiencing the same heartbreak we did. Pedestrian safety is crucial, and it shouldn’t take a loss like ours for action to be taken. Just a month after she died, a crosswalk with caution lights was installed where she was struck. I only wish it had been there sooner.
Mom, I know you’re watching over us, and I hope you can feel just how deeply you are—and always will be—loved. Your legacy of love, selflessness, and kindness will never fade. We miss you every day, but we carry your lessons and your love with us, always.
With all my love,
Angel
