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Oct
26
UK Bahá’í community mourns distinguished member
Filed Under Bahá'í administration, People | Leave a Comment
Betty Reed, who played a key role in the administration of the Bahá’í community in the United Kingdom, and further afield in Europe, has died at the age of 87.
Mrs Reed, who spent her final years in a care home near Hollywood, County Down in Northern Ireland, passed away on 25 October.
Born in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, Mrs Reed joined the Bahá’í faith in the 1940s and immediately became an active participant in its community life.
She was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the British Isles in 1953 and served as its Secretary from 1961 until 1970. In that year, she was appointed as one of the first Bahá’í “Counsellors” for Europe. For 15 years she travelled extensively throughout the continent, inspiring and educating Bahá’í communities and developed a special appreciation for the Scandinavian countries and Iceland, where she enjoyed many close friendships. Mrs Reed also made extended visits to South America and India.
Mrs Reed’s love of Icelandic culture resulted in the publication of a book for children, Stories of Bahá’u'lláh as told by Pokka, published in 1972.
In a written tribute, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom recalled her “staunchness of faith, unfailing reliability and keen sense of humour.”
Mrs Reed spent the last two decades of her life in Northern Ireland after moving from Inverness. “She was extraordinarily knowledgable about the history and administration of the Bahá’í faith,” said Dr Keith Munro, Secretary of the Bahá’í Council for Northern Ireland, “She inspired our lives tremendously. She will be very sorely missed.”
Mrs Reed’s funeral will take place at Kirkwood’s, 150a Kings Road, Belfast on Thursday 30 October at 11.30am.