Patricia Redds

Patricia Dancy Redds was born on August 1, 1931 in Shuqualak, Mississippi. She was the second of three daughters born to Eddie and Annie Dancy. The family moved to East St. Louis, Illinois where she was educated in the East St. Louis school system graduating with honors from Lincoln High School.        
    
After graduating high school, Mrs. Redds attended Texas College in Tyler, Texas. While at Texas College, she was active with the drama club, gospel choir and became a member of the Alpha Tau Chapter of her beloved Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in 1951. She graduated magna cum laude earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science in 1953. She later attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri earning a Master of Science in Sociology and Minor in Guidance Counseling.  Mrs. Redds’ professional career included educator, counselor, and Founder and Director of the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Street Academy.  As principal of an alternative educational school in Flint, Michigan, she was responsible for reclaiming hundreds of young boys and girls from the streets and helping them graduate from high school. The students affectionately called her “Mama Redds”.       

Mrs. Redds loved the Lord God with all of her heart, mind and soul. As a young girl she became a missionary. She was very active with Sunday School, the music department, Christian Education, and Christian Youth Fellowship.  It was no surprise when Mrs. Redds married her late husband, Presiding Elder Harry Lee Redds Sr., and moved to Flint, Michigan to join her husband as First Lady of Dozier Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) church. They were assigned to two additional churches in Flint, St. James CME and
St. Peter CME. Mrs. Redds continued to be active with the Women’s Missionary Society, choirs and Christian Education with each church.

         
In 1979, Elder Redds and Mrs. Redds were appointed Presiding Elder and First Lady to the
Third Episcopal District, serving the Michigan-Indiana Region.  In 1994, they relocated to California and were assigned to the Ninth Episcopal District, serving the Northern California Region. While serving as Presiding Elder and First Lady, they served at Amos Temple,
Lewis Memorial, St. Stephen, Beebe Memorial Cathedral and Century Chapel.  Mrs. Redds continued to be active with the Women’s Missionary Society, frequently conducting training classes and workshops. She enjoyed public speaking and was often invited to speak at churches, or as some would say, “to preach”.

Mrs. Redds served as the first Connectional President of the Connectional Ministers’ Spouses Widows / Widowers Department of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in 1994. She led this newly organized department in developing and adopting bylaws, formulating reporting procedures and raising funds in support of its platform. Mrs. Redds was recently recognized for her service with the Connectional Ministers’ Spouses Widows / Widowers Department of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, in the March 2021 edition of The Christian Index, the official publication of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mrs. Redds is preceded in death by her husband, Presiding Elder Harry Lee Redds Sr., parents Eddie and Annie Dancy, sister Mineva Foley, and sons-in-law Charles Fair Sr. and John Carradine Sr. She is survived by her sister Dorothie Jean Crim; children
Portia Bearyman Fair, Johnice Redds Carradine, Patrice (Leo) Bell, Harry Redds Jr., Patrick (Sonya) Redds, and Eddie Redds; grandchildren Jamel (Ebony) Bearyman, Alandra (Jeremiah) Towner, Jessica Fair, Samillia Washington, G. Tiffany Crawford, Micha Goudeau, Bernadette Martin, Carren Redds, Kyle Thomason, Shaun Thomason, Tenajah Redds, Elijah Redds, Christopher Redds, Victoria Redds and Kennedy Redds; and a host of great grandchildren and dear friends.