Reggie Maxton- father, brother, friend, lawyer, organizer, poet, ordained minister, actor, and family unifier- passed away in Baltimore, Maryland on November 1, All Souls Day.

Born December 5, 1948 to Delores London in Cincinnati, Ohio he was later lovingly adopted by the Reverend Calvin Maxton.

He attended Hughes High School in Cincinnati and got his BA in Political Science from Antioch College. Later in life he attended Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, graduating with his law degree on the same day that his oldest daughter completed high school. Even with this late start, he practiced criminal defense law for 27 years where he loved trial cases and the community of lawyers with whom he practiced. (He might have been delayed starting law school because he used to say he thought he was not going to need a job after college because he was going to be Regional Director of the Revolution.)

He ran for judge once in Cleveland and once in Euclid, Ohio where he would have been the first Black judge ever in a city with a Black population of over 60%. Although he didn’t win these races, he inspired many people permanently with his campaigns. While he often lamented not having a more prosperous law practice, he was also committed to serving people with backgrounds similar to his own who might not otherwise have had access to a lawyer. He worked very hard to live a life of service and encourage others to do the same.

Personally, Reggie had many loves and passions. He was an avid reader, fisherman, jazz and soul aficionado, lover of sunshine and scenic routes. He would never turn down a trip to Golden Corral, and quickly became a regular at Charm City Buffet after moving to Maryland early in 2025. A new John Grisham novel would make his day. Even in his last hours on earth he ate good food, appreciated the sun on his face, admired a field of wildflowers, listened to music, laughed, made jokes and showed support to his friends and loved ones.

He had more friends than anyone we knew and never met a stranger. Two of his best friends, Yvonne Harris and Walt Johnson, grew to be more like family in their friendship of many decades.

The cast of characters in his life was wildly diverse ranging from political leaders, authors, and scientists to people struggling with substance abuse and the unhoused.

He was the proudest parent to two daughters, Ashindi Maxton and Azya Maxton (people always joked “Don’t ask Reggie about his daughters or he won’t stop talking”) and grandfather to Azania Elizabeth Maxton, of Baltimore, MD. He was also a devoted father figure to his nephew, DeCarlo Blackwell, of Columbus, Ohio.

He leaves behind his siblings: Gregory Maxton, Calvin Maxton, Theresa (Tim) Whitfield Michael (Valrica) Maxton, Michelle Maxton-Green. He was preceded in death by his Mother Delores Maxton and his Father Calvin Maxton and his sister Gail Blackwell. A host of nephews and nieces and great nephews and nieces and great great nephew and niece whose lives he touched.

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