Members of the extended Reid family, along with PEF leaders, pose for a photograph outside the New York State Senate on May 19, 2026.
May 21, 2026 — At a press conference on May 19, friends and family members of the late Dorothy E. Reid gathered at the State Capitol in Albany to honor the long time PEF member and original plaintiff of Brown v. Board of Education. Reid passed away in September 2025 at the age of 88.
PEF Vice President Bruce Giddings described Reid’s bravery at age 14 as she stood up for equal rights by going on strike as a student and becoming the plaintiff of Davis v. Prince Edward County School Board. That case and three others would later form the foundation of Brown v. Board of Education, the 1954 Supreme Court decision that outlawed segregation in U.S. public schools.
“She helped change the course of educational history in this country,” said VP Giddings. “But Dorothy Reid’s commitment to service did not end there. Time and again, throughout her 88 years, she answered the call to serve others. For 28 years, she dedicated herself to the people of New York State.”
When she moved from Virginia to New York, Reid obtained her nursing degree from Brooklyn Community College and went on to work for the Office of Mental Health—then known as the Department of Mental Health Services—as a safety officer, social worker, case manager, and program director at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center.
Reid was an active PEF member and a pillar of her community.
“I believe that Dorothy Reid knew then, what we know now: That the fight for civil rights, for equal rights and the fight for labor rights was not going to end with that Supreme Court decision,” said PEF Region 9 Coordinator Gabriela Franklyn. “So, she continued to advocate for civil rights. For education. For equal rights. And for workers, including her fellow PEF members.”
Renee Reid is Dorothy Reid’s daughter. She is a PEF steward who works as a parole officer for the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. She credits her mother’s example as one of the reasons she pursued public service.
Charles Reynolds, Reid’s son, spoke for the family at the press conference.
“No one stands against oppression without facing risk, intimidation, and retaliation. My grandparents stood firm and endured the consequences,” said Reynolds, who described how difficult it was after Brown for many Black Americans to get educated. “Imagine parents forced to send their children to neighboring counties just to receive an education, or teachers losing their livelihoods—though some bravely continued to teach in homes and churches.”
Reynolds closed the conference by honoring his aunts, Inez, Bertha and Jacqueline, who stood alongside their sister during the student strike in 1951, and throughout the trial.
After the press conference, State Senator Robert Jackson invited Renee, Charles, and the rest of the family into the Senate chamber to witness the introduction of a legislative resolution honoring Dorothy E. Reid. Senators Jamaal Bailey, Cordell Cleare, Leroy Comrie, Shelley Mayer and Lea Webb spoke on the floor in support of the resolution.
It reads, in part:
“WHEREAS, her courageous stand at such a young age exemplified a profound commitment to justice and equality, inspiring generations and leaving an indelible mark on the fight for civil rights; and… WHEREAS, She was a source of unwavering love, wisdom, and strength, remembered as a guiding light, a steadfast advocate for justice, and a compassionate presence in the lives of her family, friends, and community; … RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor the life and legacy of Dorothy E. Reid, recognizing her extraordinary contributions to civil rights and public service, and commemorating her role in the 72nd Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education.”
