Andrea Smalls

On September 29, 1952 at Harlem Hospital in New York City, Robert Smalls Jr and the late Verna-Mae Chesterfield welcomed their second child Andrea Smalls. Throughout her life she was affectionately known to her family members and dear friends as “Pollie.” As a teen growing up in Harlem, her innate sense of fashion and style caused some to refer to Andrea as “Ms. Diana Ross.” Seldom a hair out of place, compliments were a plenty and shadowed her through life. A graduate of Louis D. Brandeis High School in Manhattan, Andrea later moved to the Bronx in 1973 after she welcomed the joy of her life; her beloved son, Lamont in 1972. When thinking of Andrea’s character words like pleasant, amiable, personable, and genuinely loving come to mind. She exhibited these from her youth onward. Her infectious personality and wonderful smile would light up a room with relative ease. These delightful qualities on display throughout her lifetime would garner her quite a multitude of loving and close friends. In fact, Andrea had a way of making most individuals feel special in their association with her. When she made the sobering decision to symbolize her dedication to the privileged service of the true God Jehovah on July 14, 2012 by water immersion; her fine attributes aided her sharing the good news of God’s Kingdom to all who would listen. In March 2013, for the first time, Sister Andrea Smalls auxiliary pioneered, devoting 30 hours to preaching and teaching to others about the vital message in the Holy Bible. It was her profound desire to see more of her family members embrace the service of our Grand Creator. Family has always been an integral part of existence, for she adored her father, her son and two granddaughters, and her siblings. On September 4, 1998, she moved from the Bronx, NY to Fort Lauderdale, FL. In October 1998, she began work at The Village (Residential treatment program for drug abuse). On December 22, 1999, she gained employment at Keiser University where she until she expired at home on May 28, 2013. Andrea really enjoyed working as a Front Desk Receptionist at KU. She had a reputation for always arriving early for work each day and never abusing time off from work. The Keiser family loved her work ethic and sparkling personality. In turn, Andrea touched the heart of every student, faculty, staff member & visitor who entered that building. In addition to the preceding virtues, Sister Smalls enjoyed music and dancing. As an admirable cook, many enjoyed her fried chicken, mac & cheese, collard greens, and potato salad. Also, she proved to be a phenomenal bowler on many lanes in her lifetime. While in New York she was a member of bowling league for several years. Although Sister Smalls is greatly missed by her family, congregation, colleagues, and neighbors her example as one who truly loved life and people will live on. We are confident that she is included among those spoken of at John 5:28, 29 “the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life.” Left to cherish her memory are her father, Robert Smalls, Jr., Aunt Geneva Grant, Aunt Rovena Jasper, her son, Lamont Smalls, granddaughters Christina & Shania Smalls, sisters Rosalyn Hamilton, Benicia Coleman, Theresa Jones, Karen Richburg, Gail Mayo, brothers Robert W. Smalls, Steven Smalls, (preceding her in death are sister Brenda Isaac and brother David Chesterfield), brothers-in-law Adrian Mayo, Sr., Gregory Richburg, and a host of relatives and close friends that truly felt like family.

Andrea Smalls

September 29, 1952 - May 28, 2013