Dr. O. Janet Reed-Caldwell

McDonough Chapel In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to the Wesley Chapel U.M.C. Scholarship Fund. Dr. O. Janet Reed-Caldwell----educator, writer, editor---passed away on November 21, 2017 at the age of 75. Janet, christened as Onnie Janet Reed, was born in Bisbee Arizona, the oldest child of the late Onnie Richardson Reed and the late Frank Norris Reed. Her father was a staff sergeant stationed at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona; when he joined the Pacific Theater during WWII, Janet and her mother went to Lake Charles to wait for him. After his return, the Reeds moved to Pittsburgh, which was Frank’s home. Janet grew up in Pittsburgh, and was educated in the public school system. After graduation from Westinghouse High School, she attended California State College in California, Pennsylvania, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from D. C. Teachers College, a Master of Arts degree from Howard University, a Master of Arts degree and a doctoral degree from Columbia University. Janet moved to Washington, D.C. in 1965 and joined Peoples Church in 1966, where she served in many roles including deaconess, assistant Sunday School superintendent, Women Day’s speaker, and director of the tutorial service. To a marriage to Nathaniel P. Moore, which ended in divorce, two devoted daughters, Karen Lisa and Nicole Renee, were born. She later married the love of her life, George Arthur Caldwell on July 23, 1994 and again on July 23, 2013. She began her professional career as a teacher in the D. C. Public Schools. She then taught at Howard University from 1980-1990. Janet worked at The George Washington University as the associate director of the Multicultural Student Services Center. Continuing in college administration, she moved to The Johns Hopkins University as the Director of the Multicultural Students Affairs Office. From there she spent seven fun-filled years in New Orleans, first as the Associate Dean of Multicultural Affairs and then as Dean of Students. After New Orleans, Janet moved to Ohio, as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Central State University. After a brief retirement, Janet returned to Howard University where she worked until her final retirement in 2012. Janet had an active community life. It gave her great pride, for example, to serve as a captain in the Civil Air Patrol, Bolling Cadet Squadron. In brief, she taught a Shakespeare course to third and fourth graders; took nine children on a tour of Spain; served on the Ecumenical Christian Ministry Board of Directors of the George Washington University; served on the Higher Education Council of the United Church of Christ; participated in Ward 4 community and political activities; served as president and scholarship chair of the Pittsburghers, Inc., of Washington, D.C.; served as president of the George Washington chapter of Phi Delta Kappa; served as co-chair of the Washington Regional Task Force on Campus Prejudice; served as Board Member and volunteer with Habitat for Humanity; served as Board Member of the No/ AIDS Task Force; served as Board member of AIDS Regional Planning Commission; served as Board Member of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts Institute; served as volunteer Docent with The New Orleans Museum of Art; served as volunteer with the American Cancer Society; served as Faculty Sponsor/Secretary of Omicron Delta Kappa honorary fraternity; and served as volunteer assistant basketball coach for the Long Branch Athletic Association. Janet also served on the Piedmont Henry Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary where she was Editor-in-Chief of the newsletter. Janet wrote Home Lost and Other Poems, textbook chapters, scholarly articles, computer programs, and educational modules. She was Editor-in-Chief of the Comprehensive Handbook for Study Skills, English, and Mathematics, editor of Epiphany, and “Spelling Words for College Students.” She served as educational and writing consultant to many organizations and individuals and appeared on radio and television programs as an educational consultant. The theatre was an avocation for Janet, and she directed such plays as Arsenic and Old Lace, Halfway to Heaven, Winter Sunset, Goodnight Ladies, and Fences. She also directed and co-starred in The Last Word, and made her debut in Extra Change, a children’s feature film. Janet is a member of The Links, Inc., and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Janet is survived by her devoted husband George Caldwell; her daughters Karen Lisa Rollins and Nicole Renee-Moore Pauls (Michael, Sr.); grandchildren, Michael, Jr., Malachi, Nina, Marcus, Mykayla, Moriah, Isaac and Meah; her brother Akmed Khalifa; sister Florence Reed and a host of other relatives and friends.

Dr. O. Janet Reed-Caldwell

October 1, 1942 - November 21, 2017