Toyna Reid

In a quiet whisper, Toyna Rena Reid, age 61, transitioned on March 7, 2023, at the OSU Medical Intensive Care unit in Columbus, Ohio. Toyna Harris was born to Mary L. and Henry Harris, December 16, 1961. She attended Columbus City Schools.

Toyna was blessed with a large loving family that just kept growing! In 1977, she gave birth to Shawndella, followed by Shanta in 1979. In 1981, she married Donald Reid, Sr., and a year later gave birth to her first son, Donald (Don Don), followed by Dominic (Nic Nic), Tarron (Bum Bee), and Talisa (Lisa), she called them (TDS). She loved watching them grow, teaching them, and celebrating with them during happy and joyous times and helping them through life’s struggles. She loved her many grandchildren and could call them all by name. And of course, you rarely saw her without her “Miracle Granddaughter,” Neesh, who she nourished and cared for all of her life. Her life was her family! Her favorite quote was, “You don’t have any friends; your family are your friends.”

She loved to cook, and in fact, she was often competitive especially with her younger Sister, Pam. She was a good cook, but once in a blue moon, she might botch a dish. Her “adult” green beans were always cooked to perfection, taste so good you wanna slap your momma! But on one occasion, she burned them, and SHE GOT MAD! Not because they were burned, but because no one would eat them. In fact, she was so mad she started a fight with her sister, Brenda, and then left the event. And y’all can imagine what name she called us and her comments on the way out the door. YEAH, you know!

Toyna had a good sense of humor even when it meant laughing at herself, like the time she had a podiatrist appointment and wore new sparkling white tennis shoes. She failed to see the cement on sidewalk was not dry, so she walks on it, and suddenly it felt as if she was walking with weights on her feet, and then she realized she was sinking in concrete. She couldn’t stop laughing at herself. And of course, we cannot forget her Love for Big Bucks Bingo with her Mom and Sisters, hanging out at casino, and having a good time!

Toyna was a child of God! Her personal conversations were not only on her knees to his ear, but she kept journals of her conversations with Jesus. The journals were destroyed when her home caught fire in 2022.

On January 21, 2023, at 6:30 AM Toyna sent a couple of text messages; at 6:45 AM the PCA’s were taking her vitals; at 6:59 AM she posted on our family Facebook page stating, “thought the group would like this,” Rihanna’s song “Lift Me Up;” at 7:20 AM the hospital called to say she was “nonresponsive.” She fought for 45 days until she responded to the call of JESUS. And then, SHE WON!
God, I am ready, heart and soul, to sing songs of praise. “Wake up, my soul! Harps and lyres, wake up, and let’s wake the dawn!” Psalm 108:1-5 (ERV).

Toyna was preceded to eternal life by parents, Henry and Mary Harris; brother, Howard Harris; daughter, Talisa Reid; nephews, Thomas Harris and Kevin Harris; and niece, Tyra Harris.
Leaving to treasure her memory are her sons, Donald (Amber), Dominic (Tamika), and Tarron (Lashaunda); daughters, Shawndella (Malcolm) and Shanta (Keosha); grandchildren, Adonis, Adreece, Andre, Antonio, Arianna, Ariea, Dajuan, Daneshia, DaQuan, Dashanae, De’Marianna, De’Tahjiona, DeVontae, Dominic, Dominique, Donald, Doneeka, Ionn, Ionna, Jaizion, Jeremiah, Jesse, Joshauan, Kamille, Kejuante, Malakai, Maryah, Mitayah, Nylisa, Rondale, Roshawn, Roslyn, Shanasia, Shaquan, Shauneece, Sincere, TaLeyah, Tamia, Tarron Jr., Tre’Sean, Tyler, Tyshawn, and Yasmine; great-grandchildren, Anyla, Jae’li, Janiya, Jiyare, Joshlynn, Kavalli, Kennedy, Mi”King, Navya, Rhe’Anna, Storie, and Tyshawn Jr.; life companion, Dwight Griffin; sisters, Brenda, Bonnie, Karen, and Pamela; brother:, Stan (India); aunt, Florence Booker; estranged husband, Donald Reid, Sr.; honorary daughter, Alicia Almont; special friends, Alfreda Godfrey and Kevin and Deborah King; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Do not despair because your name is not there; know that it is too many to name, but the love is all the same.

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