Anetta Bell Smalls Leonard

Anetta Bell Smalls Leonard was born September 20, 1939, to John P. Smalls and Eula Mae Kirton in Aynor, SC. She was the oldest of fourteen children. She answered the call from God on Sunday, March 20, 2022, Jacksonville, Florida.

At an early age, she relocated to Dorchester, SC where she lived with her uncle and aunt, George, and Julia Glen, where she attended St. John UM Church. During this time, she gave birth to her oldest daughter, Judy. She graduated from Kennedy High School, Harleyville, SC.

After graduation from high school, she relocated to New York City in 1960. In New York, she lived a busy life. She married Frederick Leonard, and they had two children, John, and Sarah. She retired from Eastside House Settlement and the New York State Health Department. She was a long-time member of First Bethel AME Church, Manhattan, New York, where the Rev. Henry Belin is the current pastor. She worked in the church doing whatever was needed when it was needed. In New York, she had lots of friends and co-workers that stayed in touch with her throughout her retirement years, almost daily.

In July 2018, she relocated to Kingsland, Georgia where she lived with her daughter, Judy. She attended the First African Missionary Baptist Church, in Kingsland, Georgia with Judy. Her caretaker, Paulette Williams provided excellent care for her.

 

She was preceded in death by her parents, John P. Smalls and Eula Mae Kirton Smalls Bromell and siblings, Harold, Johnnie Mae, Phillip, Thomas, Patricia, Bruce, and Willie Earl.

She will be fondly remembered by her children, devoted Daughter and Caretaker, Judy Smith-Burris (Rick), Kingsland, Georgia; son, John Leonard (Valarie), New Britain, Connecticut, and daughter, Sarah Bryant, Elgin, South Carolina; four grandchildren, Bradford Smith, White Oak, GA, Tatiana and Bailey Leonard, New Britain, CT, and John R. Burris, III (Tre), Kingsland, Georgia; brothers, Louis Smalls (Eula), Landover MD, Donnie Bromell, Myrtle Beach, SC, Woodie Bromell (Geraldine), Bolivia, NC, Lacca Bromell, West Palm Beach, FL, Jimmy Bromell, Plainfield, NJ, and Billy Bromell, Buford, GA; one aunt, Mrs. Julia K. Glen, Dorchester, SC; a whole host of New York Friends; special cousins, Sandra Gerald, William & Laura Gerald, Alvin & Barbara Glen and Children, Doris Burton and Children, Alma Reid, Kevin & Lynn McCants, and Darryl & Myla McCants; special friend, Mother Eleanor Jones, and a host of relatives and friends.

The Funeral will be held April 2, 2022 11Am at St. John Freewill Baptist Cemetery. 843 St. John Rd , Galivants Ferry, SC

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.