March 31, 1929 – December 2, 2020

Reba Lee Kay was born the 5^th child to Samuel Harris and Espenola Denman on March 31, 1929 in Lufkin, Texas. She graduated from Dunbar High School. Shortly after marrying Cleveland Kay in January 1960 they relocated to Houston, Texas where they remained faithful to each other until his transition on November 5, 2008.

Reba started her career in the Central Supply department at St. Luke / Texas Children Hospital and later advanced to the Respiratory Therapy Department where she provided breathing treatments for the patients until she retired in 1994.

For more than 50 years, Reba has been a member of First South Main Missionary Baptist Church. She has received several awards and recognition from her church and professional organizations as well as personal letters of appreciation from former patients throughout the years.

Reba had it her way up until the day she took her last breath. She could be found talking, as she never met a stranger, volunteering, and working the voting poll. Twice she fought and won the battle with breast cancer. Reba created her own greeting card ministry; always sending cards of encouragement to others.

Mrs. Reba lived independently and took pride that she was able to manage her affairs. Never being afraid to travel; her adventures took her to Israel to view the Holy Land. Up until her passing, she drove her car and served as President of the South Texas District Association. She was a continuous learner and remained active in the Bible Study Fellowship. 

Organizations close to her heart included the Susan G. Komen Foundation (komen.org); Star of Hope (www.sohmission.org); South Texas District Association (www.southtexasda.org); and her church, First South Main Missionary Baptist Church.

On December 2, 2020, she said to her daughters, I love you and transitioned from here to her new home on the other side. It was quick, she did not linger. Reba is survived by: two sisters, Helen Chapel of Daly City, CA and Lillian Harper of San Francisco, CA; one brother-in-law, Manuel Kay (Roberta) of Dallas, TX; three daughters, Carol Jones of Houston, Texas, Sheron Richardson (Larry) of Dallas, Texas, and Sheila Kay of Houston, Texas; two step daughters, Linda Pearson, and Gwendolyn Allen; eleven grandchildren, Samantha Jones, Celeste Jones, Catrina Linscomb, Richard Pearson III, Debra Allen, Marla Richardson, Darla Richardson (Ken), Larry Richardson Jr, and Andrenna Baldwin (Dennis); a host of great grand-kids, great great grand-kids, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Cleveland Kay; her parents, three brothers and four sisters.