South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 548
Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A senate RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS PROFOUND SORROW UPON THE PASSING OF reverend Jeannine R. smalls AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS. Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Reverend Jeannine R. Smalls on Saturday, March 15, 2025; and Whereas, a native of McClellanville, Reverend Smalls was the faithful pastor of Grace Chapel AME Church in Beaufort. She was also a retired social worker; and Whereas, Reverend Smalls earned her bachelor's degree in sociology from Hunter College in New York City, her master's degree in social work, administration, and gerontology from Fordham University, also in New York City, and her Master of Divinity from Erskine Theological Seminary in Due West; and Whereas, Reverend Smalls began her career in ministry in 2003 with the merger of three congregations: Progressive AME, St. Phillip AME, and St. Barnabas St. Paul AME. These congregations are now under the name of Greater Middleton Chapel AME Church in Charleston; and Whereas, during her ministry at Greater Middleton Chapel, Reverend Smalls organized a candlelight prayer vigil against violence on the Eastside, organized community meetings to support sustainability, supported Sanders Clyde Elementary School, and contributed to a community food distribution program, a health and wellness program, the Healthy Moms/Healthy Babies Project, and the PAN (Physical Activity and Nutrition) Project; and Whereas, Reverend Smalls served as the secretary of the AME Ministerial Alliance, secretary of the 7th Episcopal District Women in Ministry organization, and member of the March of Dimes statewide Program Services Committee; and Whereas, over the years, Reverend Smalls has received a number of honors and awards, including her 1992 recognition by the South Carolina DHEC Office of Social Work as Social Worker of the Year. In April 2006, she received the "Women of Distinction" award at Macedonia AME Church in Charleston, and she was inducted into the Mt. Pleasant District 2006 Hall of Fame with the "Strength of Choice" award. She is noted for her work with minority faith communities in planning and with the Widows Alliance of the 7th Episcopal District in acquiring grants to address health disparities; and Whereas, Reverend Jeannine leaves to cherish her memory her children, Nevja Wigfall, Reverend Jonique Smalls-Comrie, and Yasmin Smith; her grandchildren, Jordan Lowe, Jaelynn Smalls, Jayla Wigfall, Jasmary Smith, Ambyr Washington, and Donnell Washington III; her siblings, Lillian Young, Albertha Sanders (David), Reverend Joseph Smalls Jr., Reverend Debra Smalls-Gardner (Winston), Reverend Patricia Middleton, Jacqueline Smalls, and John Smalls; and her aunts and uncles, Josephine Belthrop (Paul), Alfreda Young, Mary Young, Irving Robinson (Christine), Mary Young, Charleen Cash, Loretta Cash, George Cash, Mervin Cash, Richard Cash, and Walter Myers. She will be greatly missed. Now, therefore, Be it resolved by the Senate: That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, express profound sorrow upon the passing of Reverend Jeannine R. Smalls and extend the deepest sympathy to her family and many friends. Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Reverend Jeannine R. Smalls. ----XX----
A senate RESOLUTION
TO EXPRESS PROFOUND SORROW UPON THE PASSING OF reverend Jeannine R. smalls AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Reverend Jeannine R. Smalls on Saturday, March 15, 2025; and
Whereas, a native of McClellanville, Reverend Smalls was the faithful pastor of Grace Chapel AME Church in Beaufort. She was also a retired social worker; and
Whereas, Reverend Smalls earned her bachelor's degree in sociology from Hunter College in New York City, her master's degree in social work, administration, and gerontology from Fordham University, also in New York City, and her Master of Divinity from Erskine Theological Seminary in Due West; and
Whereas, Reverend Smalls began her career in ministry in 2003 with the merger of three congregations: Progressive AME, St. Phillip AME, and St. Barnabas St. Paul AME. These congregations are now under the name of Greater Middleton Chapel AME Church in Charleston; and
Whereas, during her ministry at Greater Middleton Chapel, Reverend Smalls organized a candlelight prayer vigil against violence on the Eastside, organized community meetings to support sustainability, supported Sanders Clyde Elementary School, and contributed to a community food distribution program, a health and wellness program, the Healthy Moms/Healthy Babies Project, and the PAN (Physical Activity and Nutrition) Project; and
Whereas, Reverend Smalls served as the secretary of the AME Ministerial Alliance, secretary of the 7th Episcopal District Women in Ministry organization, and member of the March of Dimes statewide Program Services Committee; and
Whereas, over the years, Reverend Smalls has received a number of honors and awards, including her 1992 recognition by the South Carolina DHEC Office of Social Work as Social Worker of the Year. In April 2006, she received the "Women of Distinction" award at Macedonia AME Church in Charleston, and she was inducted into the Mt. Pleasant District 2006 Hall of Fame with the "Strength of Choice" award. She is noted for her work with minority faith communities in planning and with the Widows Alliance of the 7th Episcopal District in acquiring grants to address health disparities; and
Whereas, Reverend Jeannine leaves to cherish her memory her children, Nevja Wigfall, Reverend Jonique Smalls-Comrie, and Yasmin Smith; her grandchildren, Jordan Lowe, Jaelynn Smalls, Jayla Wigfall, Jasmary Smith, Ambyr Washington, and Donnell Washington III; her siblings, Lillian Young, Albertha Sanders (David), Reverend Joseph Smalls Jr., Reverend Debra Smalls-Gardner (Winston), Reverend Patricia Middleton, Jacqueline Smalls, and John Smalls; and her aunts and uncles, Josephine Belthrop (Paul), Alfreda Young, Mary Young, Irving Robinson (Christine), Mary Young, Charleen Cash, Loretta Cash, George Cash, Mervin Cash, Richard Cash, and Walter Myers. She will be greatly missed. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, express profound sorrow upon the passing of Reverend Jeannine R. Smalls and extend the deepest sympathy to her family and many friends.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Reverend Jeannine R. Smalls.
----XX----
This web page was last updated on April 15, 2025 at 12:00 PM