BREAKING NEWS: Beloved Philanthropist and Community Hero Samuel Reed Passes Away at 78
July 25, 2025 | 9:00 AM EST
It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we report the passing of Samuel Reed, a man whose name became synonymous with hope, compassion, and tireless dedication to public service. Reed, 78, passed away peacefully at his home in Charleston, South Carolina late Wednesday evening, surrounded by his family and loved ones. A cause of death has been confirmed as complications from a recent stroke he suffered in June.
The announcement was made early this morning by Reed’s eldest daughter, Melissa Reed-Davenport, who shared a moving statement:
“My father lived a life rooted in love, faith, and an unwavering belief that one person can change the world. He taught us not only to speak up, but to act with kindness — especially when it was hardest. Though our hearts are broken, we celebrate the legacy he leaves behind.”
A Life of Service
Samuel Reed wasn’t born into privilege, but he rose through hardship with an unmatched tenacity. Born in 1947 in Mobile, Alabama to a single mother who worked three jobs, Reed often spoke of the long nights he spent studying by candlelight and the times they went hungry. “Those empty stomachs taught me how full the world could be if we shared better,” he once said in a speech at the Harvard Kennedy School.
After graduating from Morehouse College in 1970, Reed became a public school teacher, then later a civil rights attorney. But it was in the 1990s that he became a national figure when he founded the Heartwell Foundation, an organization committed to building educational and healthcare infrastructure in underserved rural communities across the American South.
Over the next 30 years, the Heartwell Foundation built over 200 schools, 40 clinics, and provided more than $45 million in scholarships to disadvantaged youth — many of whom went on to become educators, doctors, and civic leaders themselves.
Mourning Across Generations
Tributes have been pouring in from across the nation and the world, a testament to the scale of Reed’s impact.
President Joe Biden, in an official White House statement, wrote:
“Samuel Reed was the soul of America’s promise — a fighter for fairness, a believer in second chances, and a builder of bridges where there were once only walls. His life made this country better.”
Former First Lady Michelle Obama shared her condolences via social media:
“The world lost a light today. Samuel Reed showed us how to lead with heart. I am grateful for the lessons he taught us and the legacy he leaves behind.”
Closer to home, hundreds gathered spontaneously outside Reed’s modest Charleston home last night, placing candles, flowers, and handwritten letters on the sidewalk. Many called him “Grandpa Sam,” even if they had never met him. “He made us feel seen,” one teenager said through tears. “Even in his speeches, you felt like he was speaking just to you.”
A Man of Quiet Courage
While Reed was widely admired, he never sought the spotlight. In fact, he turned down political office offers several times, believing his work was best done at the ground level.
“He never wanted to be a senator, though he could’ve been one easily,” said longtime friend and fellow activist Bishop Raymond Ellis. “He always said, ‘I serve people, not power.’ That’s who he was.”
One of Reed’s final public acts was helping to mediate peace in a tense local standoff between a police department and protesters last year. He walked, cane in hand, between riot shields and raised fists, and sat down in the street until both sides agreed to talk. “We either kneel together in prayer or fall apart in silence,” he said at the time.
A Private Family Man
Though beloved publicly, Reed’s greatest devotion was always to his family. He was married for 52 years to his college sweetheart, Dr. Angela Reed, a pediatrician and community health advocate who passed away in 2021.
Together, they raised five children and fostered dozens more.
In a heartbreaking yet hopeful moment during today’s press conference, his youngest son, Terrence Reed, fought back tears as he shared:
“Dad never missed a birthday. He wrote letters — real letters — and left sticky notes in our lunchboxes until we were teenagers. Even as he helped thousands, he always made us feel like his whole world.”
Honoring His Legacy
The Heartwell Foundation has announced plans to open the Samuel & Angela Reed Community Empowerment Center in Charleston in 2026. The facility will house classrooms, a clinic, a food bank, and a transitional housing wing for homeless youth — all programs dear to Reed’s heart.
Additionally, a scholarship in his name is being created, aimed at young leaders pursuing degrees in social justice, education, or public health.
The mayor of Charleston has declared a citywide day of mourning and remembrance. Flags are at half-staff, and a candlelight vigil is scheduled for Saturday night at Freedom Park, where Reed once delivered a now-iconic speech on unity and racial reconciliation in the wake of the 2015 Charleston church shooting.
The Final Message
In a voice memo sent to his grandchildren just days before his passing, Reed left behind words that now feel hauntingly prophetic:
“If you’re listening to this, I’m either asleep or smiling somewhere far away. Don’t cry too long. Cry a little — it’s good for the soul. But then live. Love like I tried to. And remember: the smallest kindness you offer a stranger is a monument to your humanity. That’s how you change the world.”
Funeral Arrangements
A public memorial service for Samuel Reed will be held at the Charleston Civic Auditorium on Monday, July 28, at 10:00 AM. The service will be livestreamed for national and international audiences.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Heartwell Foundation.
Samuel Reed is survived by his five children, 14 grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, and the millions of lives he touched — not just with his hands, but with his soul.
Rest in power, Samuel Reed. The world is better because you lived.
