Couple of the Month: Donnie and Amy Reed

In 2010, our Couple of the Month was Amy and Donnie Reed, then of Conway. They had married in 1990 and were raising two daughters. They enjoyed working out and being involved in their community at Second Baptist Church. Since the article published, they completed bachelor’s degrees in 2015. Today, the girls are grown, and Amy and Donnie recently moved to the “forever home” they built in Bigelow. 

HIS STORY:

Education: A Bachelor of Science in organizational management from Central Baptist College (CBC).

Job: Cintas.

Community/church activities: Young Married Small Group co-leader, Deacon and member of Second Baptist Church. 

Hobbies/special interests: FISHING, FISHING AND FISHING!

How would you describe yourself: Loyal and a great listener.

What is one thing people don’t know about you: I was a pretty salty basketball player in high school.  

What is your motto: I tell our small-group guys, “Chase after God, chase after your wife, and everything will work itself out.”

HER STORY:

Education: I hold a Bachelor of Science in leadership and ministry from CBC.

Job: CBC.

Children: Our daughter Hope is married to Caleb, and they have a son, Reed. They are expecting our granddaughter in July. Our daughter Faith is engaged and will marry this month. 

Community/church activities: Lions Club member and a board member, 501 LIFE Magazine Editorial Board, Young Married Small Group co-leader and member of Second Baptist Church.

Hobbies/special interests: I love to read when I get a chance. I thought when the girls were gone, Donnie and I would have a ton of time for hobbies. I think we are busier than ever.

How would you describe yourself: A people person. I get my energy from being around people and listening to their stories. I’m also a HUGE HUGGER!

What is one thing people don’t know about you: I didn’t receive my bachelor’s degree until I was 49 years old. You are never too old to learn.

What is your motto: I’ve learned that people will forget what you’ve said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget the way you made them feel. I want to be remembered as a person who loved well.

Their STORY:

We married on June 22, 1990, at Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Smith. This coming June, we will celebrate our 33rd wedding anniversary. In 1990, we committed to God and to each other that we would fight for our marriage and wouldn’t give up on one another. Has it been hard? Yes. Has it been worth it? Absolutely! I once heard that a “perfect marriage is just two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other.” That is so true. We LOVE each other, and we also LIKE each other. I think that’s important. Donnie is my favorite person on the planet. There is no one else I’d rather be with.

Caleb Carter (from left), Hope and Reed Carter, Amy Reed, Donnie Reed and Faith Reed. The fur baby is Bucket. Autumn Dixon Thurman photo.

In the last 15 years, a lot has changed. We both graduated with our bachelor’s degrees through the PACE program at CBC in 2015. Our girls graduated from Conway High (2012 and 2013) and went on to graduate from college. I changed jobs and now work as the Director of Development at CBC. Hope married Caleb in 2016. They had our first grandson, Reed, in August of 2021. They are expecting our first granddaughter in July of this year. Our daughter Faith will marry William Young this month. We bought 5 acres and just built our forever home in Bigelow and recently moved in. Lots of changes, but lots of blessings as well.