William Reid was born and raised in Anniston, Alabama, where he entered the ministry at the early age of twelve (1970). He served as pastor at the Westview Baptist Church in Anniston, where he was the second youngest pastor in Alabama. After graduating high school, he later relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio to pastor Christ Memorial Baptist Church (1982). When the health of his mother declined, he moved back to Anniston to assist the family in caring for his mother and became pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church (1986). After the passing of his mother, he moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he received the call to pastor at Wilder Missionary Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee (1988). After serving three years as pastor in Knoxville, he was called to New Hope Baptist Church (1991), where he presently serves as pastor.

Dr. Reid's education includes his B.A. in Biblical History from the historic Selma University, M. Ed. from the University of Alabama with emphasis in Resource Ed., and his D.D. from Emmanuel University in Conley Springs, North Carolina. In May of this year, Dr. Reid will also complete his certification for Police Chaplain at the Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Academy, Bristol, Virginia.

Dr. Reid serves as Chaplain for the Bristol Virginia Police Department, Moderator of the Schaefer Memorial Baptist Association of Southwest Virginia, Assistant Secretary and Executive Board Member of the Baptist General Convention of Virginia and serves on many Board of Directors around the region.

Dr. Reid has a passion for feeding the homeless and hungry throughout Bristol, Virginia and Tennessee, where he has "hands-on "experience in the ministry of feeding the hungry.

When Dr. Reid is not busy with the ministry, he finds time for music, riding motorcycle, and cruising with his wife, the lovely Sylvia Austin Reid. Dr. and Mrs. Reid are parents of three children (one of which is deceased), eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Dr. Reid is a leader who dares to challenge the problems throughout the city and state. His motto is, "Together, we can all make Bristol a great place to live through our efforts of love and unity...the best is yet to come."