Malverne to Honor 2 Local Women at Dr. King Celebration

While many people know of Martin Luther King, Jr. through history books and other second-hand accounts, Dr. Michele Reed actually met the civil rights leader...before she was even born.

"My mother was pregnant with me when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. shook her hand at a school in Rockville Centre," Reed told Patch.

Now, all grown up and a mother herself of two twins, the 1986 Malverne High School graduate continues to embody the values that Dr. King preached during his life. She is a Life Member of the Lakeview NAACP and has dedicated her time to uplifting her local communities through the for Health and Wellness, Inc., a non-profit she co-founded that deals with health education and disease prevention. She also mentors youth and enjoys speaking at schools, churches and health fairs.

That is why, tonight the Malverne school district will be presenting Reed and Doris Sherr with humanitarian awards at its Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration.

Reed, a board certified family medicine physician who earned her degree from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1997, has served as the school district's doctor for more than 11 years as well as the physician for the Roosevelt school district. She also runs two practices in Garden City and Rosedale. Sherr has worked as the secretary to principal of the district's Maurice W. Downing Primary School for 25 years.

Both women said receiving this award is a great honor.

"I’m not used to being in the spotlight, so it’s a wonderful honor," Sherr told the Herald.

"It is indeed a privilege to be honored by the school district and to receive an award that my mother [Rener Reed] was the first recipient of," Reed said. "So much has happened in the United States since the 1960's and I encourage all people to actively stay involved in all aspects of the community, especially those issues affecting our children."

The school district's Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration will take place on Friday, Jan. 13, at 7 p.m. inside Howard T. Herber Middle School. It will also feature musical performances from students in each of the district's four schools.