In 1953 she was one of the first two women elected to the Fono, when she and Zilpher Jennings won seats in the House of Representatives.

[2][3] Reid was one of ten children of American Navy sailor William Patrick Coleman and his Samoan wife Amata C.

She was educated at the Sacred Hearts Academy in Hawaii,[6] and became a stenographer and clerk of the High Court of American Samoa.

[6] In 1947 she became an agent for the new Samoan Area Airways, set up by her brother Lawrence.

[1] During her second term she served as chair of the Ways and Means committee and as Acting Speaker of the House.