Mrs. Ruth Esther Reed

Mrs. Esther Reed, aged 84, passed to Glory on Saturday, April 3, 2021 at her Greenville, SC home. Born in Newton, NJ, on June 15, 1936 to Percy and Ruth McMurtrie, she was named Ruth Esther after her mother, but called "Esther" throughout all her life. The first of three sisters, Esther grew up in rural Hope, New Jersey (Warren County), where the family raised chickens and goats.

Esther is survived by her youngest sister, Elaine Nelson of North Plainfield, NJ. Esther is survived by her daughter, Cynthia "Tia" Reilly and husband Kevin, and her daughter Michele Kuzmic and husband Greg; she also has seven surviving grandchildren--Sean Reilly, married to Christina; Kaitlyn Morrow, married to Darrin Morrow; Tara Reilly; Sarah Kuzmic; James Kuzmic married to Lily; Hannah Kuzmic, and David Kuzmic. Esther is also survived by four great-grandchildren--Galen, Tali, Reilly, and Ronan. She is preceded to heaven by one sister, Sylvia Wildermuth and one grandchild, Colleen Michele Reilly.

For the last 23 years, Esther has resided with her daughter, Michele "Shelly" Kuzmic and family. When she retired from almost thirty years of nursing work in New Jersey in 1997, she did not retire at all from living God's full plan for her. In her Greenville neighborhood, and in her church at Mt. Calvary Baptist, Greenville, SC, "Grandma Reed" is famously loved for her work with small children in Sunday school, delivering Bibles to new babies born to church members, working at Faith Ministries, and being involved with the Seniors Ministry. At home she filled her time with gardening, filling her bird feeders, reading her Bible, listening to sacred music, and scolding the squirrels.

Just as it was in Greenville, Esther's life in Newton, New Jersey, was marked also by care for others: she worked as a registered nurse at both Newton Memorial Hospital and The Homestead (elderly care). Her daughters Tia and Shelly distinctly dreaded going to the grocery store with their mom because "Mom knew everyone in town, and she always found someone to talk to."

At that time, faithful to the Lord Jesus in character and love, Esther attended Faith Baptist Church, in Sparta, NJ, where she led the children's choir and served in any way possible for over thirty years.

The reason for Esther's love of her church families results from her relationship with the Lord Jesus (which is now fulfilled in ways we can only look forward to!). She trusted in Him for her eternal salvation and grew up in Him throughout all her life.

Esther believed, too, in teaching and leading the young ones in her life. Here is a touch of the impact she had on her own grandchildren….

♥Welcoming and loving .... I will miss her cards and scriptures.
♥Extremely consistent and it's amazing to me how dedicated she was to so many different people.
♥ I always remember her at the dining room table, eating her breakfast, watching her birds, and reading her Bible.
♥Diligent and helpful….she truly loved people because she didn't just say it, she showed it.
♥Grandma let her steadfast and purposeful faith define her. She was motivated by a love for God and for those around her.
♥Godly, selfless, and hopeful…..cards with prayers, scriptures, and hymns very intentionally and purposefully shared.
♥Hard-working and selflessly serving. She was always busy doing things for and thinking about others,
♥ Always loved birds, it's how I always thought of her…
♥My healer in sick times, a companion for a game of dominos….Grandma, the example of having your eyes fixed on the cross.

The viewing for Esther will be held at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church (115 Cedar Lane Rd., Greenville, SC) at 12:30pm on Thursday, April 8. Immediately following, at 2:00pm, a funeral service will be held to remember Esther's touch on our lives and hearts. (You can expect to sing several hymns!) According to Esther's wishes, she will be buried with her sister Sylvia in Hope, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Esther Reed's name to either of the following mission efforts:
· Kevin and Cynthia Reilly (serving in Latin America) with Grace Global ministries (online giving finance@ggminfo.org ; by check Grace Global Ministries, PO Box 12, Cedarville, OH 45314)
· Gospel Fellowship Association Missions, 1809 Wade Hampton Blvd., Suite 110, Greenville, SC 29609