Roma Downey Pays Della Reese Her `Highest Honor' By Naming Actress Her Daughter's Godmother

Jet, Dec 20, 1999

Della Reese and Roma Downey share a special bond each week on the top-rated TV drama "Touched By An Angel" where they portray angels.

And, in this instance, art really does imitate life for the two women as they share a warm, close relationship off-screen as well. So close, in fact, is their bond that when Downey became a mother three-and-a-half years ago, she named Reese the child's godmother.

"She's a truly rounded individual and one of the most spiritual people I've ever met," Downey revealed on the "Donny & Marie" show in response to why she named Reese the godmother of her daughter, Reilly Marie.

"And as the course of our working experience has progressed ... we're in our sixth season together, she's become one of the closest people to me in my life, and it was the highest honor I could pay her to ask her to stand up and be the spiritual godmother for my little girl," added the Northern Ireland-born actress.

An ordained minister who has presided over Los Angeles' Understanding Principles for Better Living church in Los Angeles for more than a decade, Reese also officiated Downey's marriage a few years ago.

Explained Reese of her close friendship with Downey in her inspiring autobiography, Angels Along the Way, "Roma and I have only grown closer and more fond of each other as time has gone on ... Roma Downey is an angel in my life. It is no accident that our paths have crossed."