GLORIA JEAN ROSE SMALLS

Gloria Jean Rose Smalls was born on Aug. 1, 1953, to Annie Jane Crawford and the late Benjamin Rose. She died on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in Sumter. She was reared from an early age by the late Dollie Young. She attended the public schools of Sumter County. After graduation, she received a nursing assistant certificate in Queens, New York. After many years in Brooklyn, New York, she returned home in 1980, where she worked in many areas of the medical field such as nursing assistant, radiology tech, phlebotomist and disability coordinator. She also enjoyed working in customer service as a cashier and hotel front desk clerk.

"Jeannie," as she was affectionately known by family and friends, often laughed about her "gift of gab." She never met a stranger and was always uplifting her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and encouraging others. Once she started talking about her faith and her love for God, you could barely get a word in. She was known for her radical praise and worship and her unwavering faith. She served and assisted in many churches during her Christian journey. Her final mission was a work she began at Palmetto Towers, Sumter, where she ministered each Sunday and held noonday prayer every Wednesday, until her health declined.

Jeannie leaves to cherish her memory: her daughter, LaShonda McElveen and son-in-law, Lee McElveen, of Sumter; one grandson, Desmond Mitchell of Sumter; one granddaughter, Candace Mitchell of Sumter; an adopted "second daughter," Felicia Ragin Sams; godson, Nathan Copeland, known to her as "Nate Nate"; her biological mother, Annie Jane Crawford of Aberdeen, North Carolina; five sisters, Carrie Melvin of Brooklyn, Ida (Eddie) Jackson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Larcenia Crawford of Aberdeen, Cynthia (Henry) McRae of Whispering Pines, North Carolina, and Eyvonne Crawford of Southern Pines, North Carolina; two brothers, Charles ( Evette) Rose of Baltimore, Maryland, and Lester (Sylvia) Crawford of Hoffman, North Carolina; one aunt, Modestine VanBuren of Sumter; a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives whom she loved dearly.

In accordance with the COVID-19 guidelines, the family is requesting that face masks and social distancing be observed by relatives and friends during visitation at the home of her daughter, 3340 Lauderdale Lane, Sumter.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 182 S. Pike Road, Sumter, with the Rev. Dr. Aurelia Hill, pastor, Bishop Alfred Smalls officiating and Pastor LaShonda McElveen, eulogist.

The procession will leave at 12:15 p.m. from the home of her daughter.

Burial will be at Sumter Cemetery.

These services are entrusted to the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter. Online messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr.com. Visit us on the web at www.williamsfuneralhomeinc.com.