By Holly Walker
“John Tyler humbled me! Like many other students, it had been some time since I was in school full time. So, getting back into the swing of things was a struggle, but the teachers supported us all the way.” – Warren Reid.
Warren Reid was determined to chart his own course, and that did not involve the family business. Warren grew up in Farmville, and from a very early age, he remembers playing in and learning about the funeral homes operated by his grandfather, his grandmother and then is mother. When the time came to make a career choice, he chose to go in a different direction – one that took him to Bowie State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business management, and then went on to work various jobs in the Washington, D.C. area.
Warren, however, found himself pulled back to Farmville and to his family. And, in 2013, he decided the family legacy he had tried to avoid was actually his calling in life. So, he enrolled in John Tyler Community College’s Funeral Services program. Warren said the program’s proximity to his home, the cost, and its reputations were all factors in his decision. Plus, his grandmother and mother were both graduates of the program.
While at Tyler, Warren studied and made friends and juggled class schedules while working. He also saw his life grow and change. He got married, and he welcomed the birth of his daughter. He then celebrated his graduation from Tyler’s Funeral Services program in December 2017.
Next up for Warren – creating his own pathway as he continues his family’s legacy.