Dorothy Elizabeth Ramey Reed

Dorothy “Dottie” Reed of Hoover, AL went home to be with the Lord on September 23, 2026 after a long illness. Dottie was born on December 26, 1927 in Akron, Alabama, where she lived until graduating from Akron High School. Because of illness, she started school late but quickly caught up and was double promoted, which enabled her to graduate high school a year early. After graduation, Dottie attended the University of Alabama, where she graduated in 1948 with a degree in Library Science, a testament to her lifelong love of reading. After graduation from UA, she moved to Montgomery and lived in a boarding house with 15 other girls while working in a bookmobile for several years. While supporting herself, she also was able to help put her sisters through college. While at UA she met the love of her life, Joe Reed, and they were married on August 20, 1950 in Akron, AL. They were married for 75 years until Joe’s passing last year. They made their home in the Forest Hills section of Fairfield, AL and raised their three boys there. In 1994 they sold the house they built in Forest Hills and moved to Hoover, AL.

In the early 1960s, Dottie went back to school at UAB to obtain certification to teach elementary school and also English. She taught elementary school in the Fairfield school system for several years before moving in 1970 to teach at Faith School in Bessemer. She remained as an English teacher at Faith until 1981 when it merged with Bessemer Academy, and then taught two more years at the renamed Bessemer Faith Academy.

Dottie and Joe were longtime faithful members of Forest Hills Baptist Church in Fairfield, Alabama, becoming members in the early 1950s. Since Forest Hills Baptist was a church plant of Fairfield First Baptist (where they attended at the time), it became known that Dottie could play piano, so she became the church pianist. She was also a Sunday School teacher and served the Lord faithfully in both positions until the church closed. After moving to Hoover, AL in 1994, Dottie and Joe joined Green Valley Baptist and continued to serve the Lord there in various capacities. In later years as they were able, they attended Hunter Street Baptist and Shades Crest Baptist.

Dottie was predeceased by her parents, Jacob and Pearl Ramey; her husband, Joe Reed; and her sister, Jenine Ramey Barr. She is survived by sons Keith Reed (Carol), John Reed (Grace), and Paul Reed (Mary Jane); grandchildren Emily Butler (Zach), Jeremy Reed (Shaina), Nathaniel Reed, and Natalie Reed (Sid); and great grandchildren Zoey and August Butler, Elijah and Bennett Reed, and Jada Kennedy; and also her sister, Joyce Ramey Jernigan. Survivors also include several nieces and nephews.

A Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Ridout’s Elmwood Chapel (800 Dennison Avenue SW, Birmingham, AL 35211), followed by a Graveside Service at Elmwood Cemetery at 11:00 am. Dr. Owen Bozeman officiating.

The family wishes to thank the Oaks on Parkwood and Affinity Hospice for their care and compassion over the past two years.