The late Dr. Benjamin F. Reaves, Sr., former Oakwood University president
On February 1, 2024, Oakwood lost a former President and Department Chair, Dr. Benjamin F. Reaves, Sr., who served as the ninth President of Oakwood University with distinction. He was known the world over for his amazing ability to challenge and inspire through his insightful and powerful messages. He will be greatly missed. 

Dr. Reaves, or “Benny” as his closest friends called him, was born in New York City in 1932. After graduating from Pine Forge Academy in 1950, he earned a Bachelor of Arts from Oakwood College in 1955.  We are told that while he was a student at Oakwood, he is credited with creating the school’s motto, “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve.”

Following Oakwood, Reaves earned two degrees from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University: Master of Arts in 1966 and Master of Divinity in 1973. He obtained a Doctor of Ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary in 1974, and later a diploma from the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University in 1987.

Dr. Reaves served as a pastor with the Lake Region Conference and then for the Michigan Conference as an Associate Campus Youth Pastor at Pioneer Memorial Church. He became an Associate Professor at the Theological Seminary at Andrews, teaching Preaching and Urban Ministries. In 1977 his Alma mater Oakwood College called him to return as a professor and eventually became the chairman of the Religion & Theology Department from 1977 to 1985. As Divine Providence would have it, in 1985 he was appointed as the ninth President of Oakwood University where he served from 1985 to 1996. 

Dr. Reaves’ administration established a trend of enrollment increase up to institutional capacity. Other accomplishments during his presidency included elimination of a fund balance deficit; reduction of the default rate; and launch of Oakwood’s first national capital campaign.

For 21 years Dr. Reaves was a featured speaker on the Chicago Sunday Evening Club television broadcast. Finally, Dr. Reaves served as VP/Special Advisor for Mission and Ministries to the President of Advent Health.  The entire Oakwood family – the Board of Trustees, President Leslie N Pollard, faculty and staff, Oakwood alumni, and friends around the globe — send condolences, thoughts, hugs, and prayers to the Reaves family as they reflect and celebrate the amazing and God-directed life of one Oakwood’s sons as he now sleeps until the trumpet sounds. 

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