Emily Fredericka Reaves

Fredericka Reaves was the middle child to Fred and Ada Patterson. She was born in Takoma Park, MD on November 7, 1938 and grew up under the influence of a Christian home. Her fondest memories were of her experiences at the first Seventh Day Adventist Church located in Washington, D.C. where she was later baptized. 

Fredericka was kind, generous, industrious, smart beyond her time, and admired for her wonderful and spunky personality by everyone who knew her. 

She attended Military Road Elementary School (the Washington Union Academy), Bannenker Junior High School, Spingarn High School in Washington D.C., and graduated from Morgan State University with her Doctorate in Mathematics. 

Fredericka taught at Lincoln Middle School in Alameda, California, and was the first black female teacher at Encinal High School from 1969 - 1983. While teaching at Encinal High School, she started the first Black Student Union in 1970. She was a member of the NAACP for many years, member of the Market Street Seventh Day Adventist Church for 20 years, and a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Alameda for 25 years.

In 1960, Fredericka married Navy pilot Robert Richard Reaves III and had two beautiful sons; Robert Richard Reaves IV and Reginald Ricardo Reaves. Fredericka was a devoted mother who encouraged her children to put God first in their lives and to strive to reach their fullest potential.

She departed this life suddenly on August 26, 2019 and leaves to cherish her memory her devoted son Reginald Ricardo Reaves, brother Frederick T. Patterson, several nieces and nephews, and a host of family and friends.

Family and friends are invited to attend the visitation in honor of Mrs. Reaves on Saturday, August 31, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with her Celebration of Life beginning at 12:00 p.m. 

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