Ernestine E. Mayo

Ernestine Estella Reed Mayo, daughter of the late William and Alverta (Jones) Reed, was born on October 15, 1925, at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Ernestine was welcomed in the arms of the Lord at 7:15PM on June 11, 2025 after serving in the earth realm for ninety-nine years.

Ernestine received her education in the Baltimore City Public School System and graduated with honors from Dunbar High School in 1945. She, along with her late sister, Agnes “Rosetta” Pride, began working at an early age at Baltimore Raincoat Company.

Ernestine was baptized at the “family church” by Rev. I.C. Reddie on March 7, 1943, at First Baptist Church on Caroline & McElderry Streets in Baltimore, Maryland. Ernestine was joined in holy matrimony on June 27, 1948, to the late Albert M. Mayo they were married for thirty-seven years until his passing. She was a faithful member until her sibling’s families started growing and moved their membership to different congregations and she joined Faith Baptist Church. Ernestine was very active in church. She was musically inclined and was a member of Simon Williamson Memorial Choir, Convention Choir, & The Women’s Chorus. Ernestine would pick up the neighborhood kids and take them to Vacation Bible School which she was an active part of. She served faithfully at Faith Baptist Church until 2018 when her health began to decline.

Ernestine loved her family. She was exceptionally close with her siblings, Elder Reed, Toulson Reed, Bernard Reed, Agnes Rosetta Pride and Alma Reed, all who have preceded her in death. Ernestine was a caregiver for her parents and husband. After her sister Alma’s passing, Ernestine and Rosetta raised her youngest child, Colleen. They purchased a four-story home on Chase Street and was one of the first “colored” families to purchase a house. “Aunt Ernestine” the matriarch; the family jewel was loving and had a kind heart. There’s nothing she wouldn’t do for her family. A woman of dignity and class. She was meticulous about her appearance. She would not be seen without her pearls, lace gloves, fancy hats and her red hair.

She was preceded in death by her loving nieces and nephews Portia Reed, Joyce Burrell, Patricia Reed, Celestine Knight, Dr. Cleveland Alexander, Nathaniel Alexander & Wayne Reed.

She leaves to cherish her memory: A devoted niece, Colleen Williams; three nieces, Yvonne Hyson, Ernestine Scott, Drietriss Thornton, Darlene Cherry and Pauletta Alexander; two nephews, William Reed, Jr. (Lorraine) and Elsworth Vincent. A host of great nieces & nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. Her loving and dear childhood friends, Beulah, Thelma, Lenora and a host of other church family & friends.