Minister Is Fondly Remembered

An Atlanta minister, fondly remembered from the time he served churches in Monticello and Jasper County, was killed by a possibly deranged congregant in a bizarre shooting that left three people dead a few minutes before the minister was to open a communion service Sunday.

The Rev. Johnny Clyde Reynolds, 62, died from a single gunshot wound to the back in the sanctuary of Turner Monumental A.M.E. Church in Atlanta’s Kirkwood neighborhood, according to Associated Press and other news reports.
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The shooter was identified as Shelia W. Cheney Wilson, 43, who turned a .44 cal. handgun on herself after shooting, first, the minister, then her own mother, Jennie Mae Robinson. 67.

As members of the Kirkwood congregation were beginning to cope with the tragedy at their church, word of the incident reached St. James A.M.E. Church in Monticello where Mr. Reynolds was pastor from 1975 until 1979.

The Rev. Dr. Spencer Booker, pastor at St. James, called off his planned sermon and devoted the remainder of the service to prayers and memorializations.

Mr. Reynolds left many friends from St. James, and at Freedonia A.M.E. and King’s Chapel Churches, which he served together for a couple years before moving to St. James.

“He was responsible for me joining St. James,” recalls Sandra Carter, a member who is compiling a memory book for the former pastor’s family.

Walter Smith, Monticello city manager and a St. James member, recalls that Mr. Reynolds was known for his work with youth wherever he ministered. The youth choir at St. James still bears the name Reynolds Youth Choir in his honor.

From Monticello Mr. Reynolds moved to Fort Valley to become pastor of St. Peter A.M.E. Church for 15 years. There he is remembered as “an upright, honest, God-fearing man,” said Josiah Phelps, who knew Mr. Reynolds as a youth in the Farmers of America Club.

In the late 1990s Mr. Reynolds became minister of Turner Monumental, which will observe its 104th anniversary next weekend. He was highly regarded there, particularly for his work with the Kirkwood Neighbors Organization in its efforts to deal with a gentrifying neighborhood.

Police and church members were at loss as to a motive for the murders and suicide. Ms. Wilson had been a member of the church since childhood and sang in the choir at one time, but reportedly had not attended regularly in recent months. She reportedly had been treated at a mental health facility, but no one knew of any violent tendencies.

She and her mother reportedly came into the sanctuary while the minister and two other women were preparing the communion table. Mr. Reynolds had greeted Ms. Wilson and turned to walk back to the table when he was shot. Ms. Robinson was shot in the head as one of the two other women fled and the other hid and Ms. Wilson shot herself.

A memorial service is scheduled at 1 p.m. this Sunday at St. James A.M.E. Church in Monticello, and a memorial service also is planned at the Fort Valley church.

The funeral is scheduled at noon tomorrow, Oct. 10, at St. Paul A.M.E. Church, 1540 Pryor St. in Atlanta. Viewing was scheduled from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. today at Murray Brothers Funeral Home, 1199 Utoy Springs Rd., phone 404-349-3000.