Public Employee Press

Union mourns and celebrates
Joan Reed and Louise DeBow

Joan Reed, former president of Local 2054, was a founder of the DC 37 Women’s Committee, and Louise DeBow, former secretary of Local 420, chaired the group for many years. On March 11, the committee paid tribute to their memory with a program that recalled their contributions to their union sisters.

“We wanted to honor them in March, Women’s History Month,” said Committee Chair Walthene Primus, president of Local 957. “When I came onto the DC 37 Executive Board, there were only two women. Now there are eight. That says something about their legacy.”

DeBow was celebrated for connecting trade union women to the broader women’s movement and for making the celebration of Women’s History Month an important event at DC 37. “As we honor these brave women, let us not forget that we have all made great strides in the labor movement,” said Local 420 President Carmen Charles.

On March 14, Local 2054 held another magnificent memorial to Reed that became a celebration as speakers shared heartfelt stories that captured her unique characteristics.

A beautiful printed program featured photographs of Reed from her four decades of service, and an obituary catalogued her many contributions and celebrated Reed’s passion for social and economic justice.

The essence of Joan Reed as an exemplary leader came through as speakers offered tearful expressions of gratitude for her counsel and mentoring, funny stories about her wit and warmth, accounts of her remarkable role as a bridge between opposing factions and portrayals of the sheer joy of her personality and love of life.

Local 2054 President Colleen Carew-Rogers paid tribute to the woman “who was my friend and my beacon. I feel thankful for the privilege of sharing her life.”

“To say that Joan Reed will be missed is an understatement,” said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts. “This gracious lady from New Orleans devoted four decades to serving the men and women of this union.”

Lee Saunders, executive assistant to the president of AFSCME, called Reed “a gentle warrior, a wonderful human being and one of the classiest women I ever met. She was always there for the members of Local 2054, for DC 37 and for AFSCME. She was a quiet giant.”

— Jane LaTour