Joseph Allen Reed Sr. , United States Army Veteran, retired behavioral health counselor and beloved Husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle, departed this physical life on Sunday, January 11, 2026.

Joseph Allen Reed Sr. was born on April 23,1955 to the late Charles and Sarah Belle Reed. On April 19, 1975, he married his high school sweetheart, Karolyn Reed and from this union two children were born, Joseph Reed, Jr. and April Reed Jackson. He attended Baltimore City Public Schools and graduated from Carver Vocational Technical High School as a commercial arts major. He went on to earn an Associate Degree in Behavioral Health at CCBC, which afforded him the opportunity to become a Substance Abuse Counselor at Mi Casa Es Su Casa in Baltimore. There he helped recovering addicts develop life skills and coping mechanisms to successfully reintegrate into society. Many people loved and respected "Joe Reed". In his later years, Joseph re-established his relationship with the Lord and enjoyed attending services at Life Music Christian Fellowship (LMCF) church in Baltimore. He received spiritual lessons at the mouth of Apostle Timothy Moore and was always tickled at the way the messages were delivered. He felt at home at Life Music because of the love demonstrated by the LMCF family.

God blessed Joseph with a heart full of love, compassion, wisdom and generosity. He had a way of speaking words of encouragement in your darkest hours. He had no problem telling you what you needed to hear, in a way that he knew you could receive. He didn't hold any cut cards either, if you know what I mean. They didn't call him "The Slicer" for nothing! Joseph always looked out for the other people, protecting them and making sure they were good, regardless if they were relatives or not. Beyond his faults, he was the best husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend you could ask for. If he saw that you were in need and he had ten dollars, you could get five. On the flip side he didn't have a problem asking this question "you got any scratch, I'ma pay you back on the first!"

Joseph was preceded in death by both parents Charles and Sara Belle Reed; brothers, Charles, Robert and Clifford Reed; favorite uncles, Kirkly and Archie Lee Manigault; aunts, Mary Lee and Joanne Manigault; nieces, Twan Manigault and Tara Henderson (Spru); nephew, Paul Stanton Jr.; in-laws, Sylvester and Nellie Stanton, Bernard Stanton, Paul Stanton, Gary Stanton, Melvin Freeland and special mentions: Jermaine L. Allen and Courtland Reed.

Joseph leaves to cherish his memory and carry on his legacy: children, Joseph Reed Jr. and April Reed Jackson; two sisters Jaqueline Reed Smith, Peggy Reed Stanton one son in-law, Antwan Jackson; two grandsons, Darius Allen and Antwan Jackson Jr; three sister in-law, Veronica Stanton, Constance Stanton, and Vivian Reed; one brother in-law, Michael Hope; one adopted granddaughter India Allen; three great-granddaughters, Harley Harris, Ariyah Jackson and Raelyn Wooding (Allen); a host of "Favorite Nieces" and "Favorite Nephews" (who know exactly who they are); special cousin, Florence Spence; lifelong friends, special new friends, and several dear cousins and friends.