Edna Evelyn Leona Reid

Edna Reid firmly believed in a life of service to God, which in turn was an instrument in her service to others. Born in Toronto of West Indian parentage, Edna Evelyn Leona was one of many siblings in the large Marson family. Edna excelled as a singer in her younger years. A mezzo-soprano, she took voice training at the University Settlement and later studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music. Over the years she sang in solo recitals. Her rendition of “O Holy Night” was always a highlight of the midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Sadly, she lost her singing voice after her vocal chords were touched in a thyroid operation. Even still, that did not stop her from singing at less formal occasions.

In addition to music, she had many other skills and hobbies. She loved knitting and crafts. Making things using plastic canvas became a specialty in later years. Her calendars were a particular favourite. Sewing was also a beloved activity. When she was young, she worked as a seamstress at Bowette-Mills. Income from her jobs helped her to perform what was surely a remarkable feat for a single woman of colour at the time: In 1955, just months before her marriage to Cecil Reid, she purchased a house! She did not leave that home until January 31st of this year when she was admitted to hospital for the final time. The kitchen was a favourite place for her. She loved entertaining, cooking, and baking. She became an expert cake decorator and often used biblical passages on her cakes as the occasion warranted. Delicious food was never at a lack in the house, and it was always Edna’s pleasure to share that food with her and Cecil’s friends as well as the many friends of their children.

Edna was a faithful member of St. George the Martyr Anglican Church for many decades beginning in 1943 after her previous church, St. Philip’s Anglican, was sold. At St. George’s she served as a Sunday School teacher, choir member, envelope and parish guild secretary, and advisory board member. She hosted and prepared refreshments after Sunday services and for innumerable church functions as she once said, “for as long as I can remember”. When St. George’s closed, she and Cecil, dutifully attended St John’s Norway even on the telephone throughout the pandemic. Later, after Cecil’s death, when she was unable to attend in person, she would view the livestreams of services. In her later years, she was also a long-serving member of the Toronto Christian Women’s Club. Edna and Cecil were members of Fuanga, a fun-and-games club for Black Canadians. Furthermore, her work in the West Indian community has been recognized by Barbados House and the Donald Moore Scholarship Fund for which she was a board member.

In addition to being a foster parent to many children, she also privately acted as a babysitter of several others including relatives; some of them still think of her as a second mom. Together, Cecil and Edna had six children of their own. Sadly, there was a set of twins that died tragically. One was still born. The other, David, born on June 13th, 1959, passed away shortly afterwards. A stained glass window monument for him is installed at St. George the Martyr Church (now called St. George’s Grange Park). Edna spent her last days in the Palliative Care Unit of Michael Garron Hospital in the company of her loving children Brian, Karen (Debbie), Tony, and Keith.

A visitation for Edna will be held Friday, February 28, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Giffen-Mack & Trull Funeral Home, 2570 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4C1L3. A funeral service will occur Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM at St. John's Norway Anglican Church, 470 Woodbine Ave, Toronto, ON M4E 2H6. A committal service will occur Saturday, March 1, 2025 at Highland Memory Gardens, 33 Memory Gardens Ln, Toronto, ON M2H 3C8.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of two organizations Edna was centrally involved with and near and dear to her heart.

The Donald Willard Moore Scholarship or

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