Ethel Mae West

On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, Angels from Heaven came to pick Ethel Mae West up and took her home. She was born on May 6, 1923, in Coffeeville, Mississippi, to the late Clara Olivia Reed-Bolden and Morris Baker. She confessed her hope in Christ at an early age at Mount Zion A. M. E. Church in Coffeeville, Mississippi. Ethel was the second grandchild of Papa David Reed. Ethel attended school in Coffeville, Mississippi. While in Coffeeville, Mississippi, Ethel married Bill Jennings. Ethel and Bill migrated to Chicago in the early 1940s. She obtained gainful employment as a House Keeper and worked until she moved to Detroit, Mississippi. In Detroit, Mississippi, Ethel married Samuel West on April 27, 1956. To this union, a son was born. Ethel moved back to Chicago in the late 1960s. Ethel worked for several years in the North Suburbs as a House Keeper. Ethel took great care of her mother, Big Mama, and her older brother, Lloyd, until they were called home. Ethel was a faithful member of Greater Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago. She served on the Mother’s board. Ethel displayed her talent and skills by crocheting bed spreads, table clothes, and placemats. She enjoyed listening to music and playing cards, especially with Uncle Dooley. Ethel had a special relationship/love with Uncle Titlo and Aunt Tena. Ethel viewed her Aunt Liza as her second mother. Ethel had a special place in her heart for her German Shepherd dog, Blackie. Ethel had a tall statue. She took up space. You knew she was in the room. She demanded respect. Her presence was a woman of ELEGANCE. She was direct but showed LOVE. Ethel Mae West believed in being on time, organized, and dependable. She demonstrated her beliefs every Christmas when she coordinated and hosted the family dinner at 1340 South Kedvale. There was always enough space, food, drinks, and gifts for everyone. On any given year, there could be at least 200 people going in and out of the front door on Christmas day. You would have four different generations in the building with family coming from Mississippi, Memphis, St. Louis, and everyone from the South and West side of Chicago. Her house was full of love, laughter, and fun! Ethel had a gift and love for taking care of others which included a host of cousins. Ethel’s parents; husbands, Bill Jennings and Samuel West; son who died shortly after birth; brother, Lloyd Sharps, Sr.; nephews, Lloyd Sharps, Jr., and James Richie; aunts, Louise Reed, Caroline Reed, Tena Longstreet, Helen Parnell, and John Ella Reed; and uncles, Clyde Reed, Jesse Reed, Nathaniel Reed, Thomas Reed, Jake Reed, and Lenwood Reed, all preceded her in deathShe leaves to cherish her memories: her niece, Ethel Richie; aunt, Mary Lee Reed; a host of first, second, third, and fourth cousins; among those who she cherished close to her heart were Clara Rankin, JoAnn Johnson, Carolyn Reed Blunt who preceded her in death, Joyce Reed, and Roy Reed, Sr., who are all her first cousins, but she called them her KIDS; homemaker, Carolyn Adetunji; special love went out to Daniel Poelinitz, Jr., Danielle Poelinitz, Jessica Nichols, and Joycie Nichols, who she treated as her grandkids and great-grand kids. Ethel Mae West was the first family member who lived to the young age of 101 years old. She was just two months short of her 102nd birthday.

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