Anetta Bell Smalls Leonard was born Sept. 20, 1939, to John P. Smalls and Eula Mae Kirton in Aynor, South Carolina. She was the oldest of 14 children. She answered the call from God on Sunday, March 20, 2022, Jacksonville, Florida.
At an early age, she relocated to Dorchester, South Carolina, 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, South Carolina.
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.
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.
In July 2018, she relocated to Kingsland, where she lived with her daughter, Judy. She attended the First African Missionary Baptist Church, Kingsland, with Judy. Her caretaker, Paulette Williams, provided excellent care for her.
She will be fondly remembered by her children, devoted daughter and caretaker Judy Smith-Burris (Rick), Kingsland, son John Leonard (Valarie), New Britain, Connecticut, and daughter Sarah Bryant, Elgin, South Carolina; four grandchildren, Bradford Smith, White Oak, Tatiana and Bailey Leonard, New Britain, Connecticut, and John R. Burris III (Tre), Kingsland; brothers Louis Smalls (Eula), Landover, Maryland, Donnie Bromell, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Woodie Bromell (Geraldine), Bolivia, North Carolina, Lacca Bromell, West Palm Beach, Florida, Jimmy Bromell, Plainfield, New Jersey, and Billy Bromell, Buford; one aunt, Mrs. Julia K. Glen, Dorchester, South Carolina; a whole host of New York friends; special cousins, Sandra Gerald, William and Laura Gerald, Alvin and Barbara Glen and children, Doris Burton and children, Alma Reid, Kevin and Lynn McCants and Darryl and Myla McCants; special friend, Mother Eleanor Jones; and a host of relatives and friends.
A walk-thru viewing will be held 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, March 26 at Allison Memorial Chapel, 10141 Colerain Road, St. Marys. Remains will be returned to Conway, South Carolina, and will be interred by Latimer Funeral Home with dates to be announced.
Final arrangements are entrusted to Royal Funeral Home, Inc., Jesup.