In a tale of facing the past and embracing the future, Reginald Reed Jr. recounts a life marred by personal tragedy in his new book, "The Day My Mother Never Came Home." The San Antonio-native delves into his journey of healing after his mother, Selonia Reed, was murdered in 1987 and the subsequent conviction of his father for the crime 35 years later, as reported in a recent San Antonio Report article.
Reed's memoir weaves through his experiences, from the confusion and psychological turmoil of his youth to his present life. The book, which alternates between then and now, is sectioned into four reflective parts detailing not only the crime but Reed's coping and growing resilience. According to the San Antonio Report, Reed expresses a driving force behind his writing, “I’m just a regular person that just really put in the work, that had multiple challenges in life, and continues to overcome challenges and just keep pushing forward.”
Working through the grim day when his father, now in Tangipahoa Parish Jail, was accused and later convicted of second-degree murder. Despite the passage of time, and his father's claims of innocence and struggles in prison, Reed displays a complex depth of feeling towards him. "The Now" part of Reed's narrative captures these tumultuous emotions vividly, recounting a phone call on Mother's Day with his incarcerated father, and exploring the stark conditions of his father's confinement.
As the San Antonio Report unfolds the story, Reed shares the harrowing details of sitting through the trial and his exposure to unsettling evidence including autopsy reports, and crime scene footage that prompted a visceral reaction. Yet, Reed’s message is one of perseverance and love of family. He admits in the publication, "Still at times when I tell the story, I’m human, I get choked up, because it’s real. It’s real life. And it’s ongoing."
Personal growth and healing permeate the memoir. Reed speaks to his process, which includes deliberate self-awareness and finding solace in meditation, “an informal meditation practice, sitting alone in a quiet space, has helped immeasurably.” Reed has emerged into a world where his focus is family—raising his children with his attorney wife—and managing a life alongside a demanding pharmaceutical industry career.
Reginal Paige also closes a proverbial loop by incorporating the deeply personal into his growing family's narrative, through the names chosen for his children, symbols of renewal amidst the backdrop of unresolved history. His father, despite the conviction, still plays a role in his life, with Reed remarking that he does not hesitate to take his father's calls from prison.
Interested readers can find "The Day My Mother Never Came Home" during an author event where Reed himself will be present, hosted by Barnes & Noble at 321 Northwest Loop 410 in San Antonio tomorrow at 1 p.m. or the book can be ordered online for those who wish to explore this moving account of tragedy, endurance, and healing.
