Chanell Renee Sankey-Reed, surrounded by her loved ones, transitioned beautifully, on March 25th, 2023 at the age of 51. Chanell was the beloved daughter of John Sankey and Annette Marie Moore-Sankey. She was born March 18th, 1972 in Cleveland, Ohio and she was their only child.
Chanell academically excelled as a student in the Cleveland Public School Systems. She attended both A.J. Rickoff and Gracemount Elementary Schools, Whitney M. Young Major Work Jr. High School and graduated from John Marshall High School in 1990. During her senior year of High School, she became a member of the Illustrious Lawyerette High-Step Team and was a member of the John Marshall South Senate and City Champion Volleyball Team. After High School, Chanell attended Cheney University, an HBCU and later transferred to Wright State University, where she was the President of the Black Women Moving Forward club and a student ambassador. She graduated from Wright State University obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. In her constant pursuit of education, Chanell received a Certificate of Paralegal Studies from the Denver Paralegal Institute before going on to graduate from the University of Phoenix, receiving her Master’s Degree in Business Administration.
Chanell loved God and learned a lot about the Lord from her grandfather, Pastor Elder Thomas W. Moore and her grandmother, Maxine O. Moore. This led her to accept Christ at an early age. She was baptized and joined St. Luke Church of God, where her grandparents were the founders. Chanell always accompanied them out of town to church convocations and conventions. Later as an adult, Chanell joined and was an active member of Mega Church under Bishop Luther J. Blackwell.
On August 15, 1999, Chanell married her long-time boyfriend, Joseph Emanuel Reed, Jr and from this union was born a son, Joseph Emanuel Reed, III. She loving called him Joey, as he was her pride and joy. After 20 years of marriage, Chanell and Joseph Jr. were divorced in 2020, however they maintained a close friendship until her transition.
Chanell worked for the city of Cleveland as the Executive Assistant to the then councilman, Bill Patmon, where she assisted with administrative and program support, office management, and legislative activities. In 2001, Chanell and her family moved across country to Denver, Colorado and it is here where she would truly leave her mark. In Colorado she started as a legal assistant and program coordinator. In her spare time, she was on the City of Parker’s Planning Commission, giving advice to the town council on land use and other city developments. She then began working for the City of Aurora as a Senior Support Specialist, Management Analyst, and Political Analyst for her then mentor and Mayor, Stephen Hogan. When Chanell wasn’t working in the city, she was helping the community as a collaborative member and as the Executive Director of Healthier Beginnings. She sought to raise awareness and reduce infant mortality and improve birth outcomes of African American infants in Aurora, Colorado. Chanell was also Chair of the Aurora Branch of the NAACP Economic Development Committee. She touched many people in her time working for the city of Aurora and in Adama, Ethiopia with Aurora Sister Cities International. After resigning from the city of Aurora, she then tackled another passion of hers by becoming the Executive Director of Families Forward Resource Center, a non-profit organization whose goal is to create stronger communities by creating stronger families. Due to her illness of Guillian-Barre Syndrome, Chanell returned to Cleveland in 2021 but continued as their Executive Director, working from home.
Chanell was a leader of leaders. When people in a position of power or influence would need advice or wisdom, she would be the person they would call for guidance especially in the non-profit and the political professions. Chanell was always destined for excellence, and she strived for it every day. Chanell was filled with joy and positivity and had an infectious smile and laugh that would make any and everybody join her in laughter. Her daily affirmation was to “Create an Awesome Day.” She always kept a can-do attitude, and she would always say “Let’s not dwell on what we can’t do and figure out what we can do.” She knew the difference between power and influence. Wise beyond her years, she touched the hearts of all that she encountered, not just in the United States but internationally in Ethiopia.
Chanell is survived by her loving son Joseph Reed III and his father Joseph Reed Jr.; her mother, Annette Moore-Sankey; father John Sankey; aunt’s Ophelia Goshen (Edgar), Emma Williams (Ernest) AL, Annie Sankey, AL; Great Aunt, Lola Cook; Uncles, Dock Sankey (Debra) AL, Bill Sankey (Anne) LA; niece Maya Reed; nephew Lawrence Reed; pet cats LeBron and Kobe; pet dog Gizmo; many dear cousins and a host of other relatives, close friends and co-workers that she shared countless memories with.
Humbly Submitted,
The Family