Rev. Thelma Smalls

Reverend Thelma (Robinson) Smalls, a native of Sheldon Township, S.C. in Beaufort County was born on March 18, 1923 to the late Samuel and Henrietta Lloyd Robinson. She attended the public schools in Sheldon, South Carolina. Accepting Christ at an early age, she was baptized at the Huspah Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend Peter Green.

In 1939 she aligned with Calvary Baptist Church and served faithfully in various capacities; member of the Deaconess Board, Superintendent of Sunday School (Teacher Emeritus) and was a charter member of Calvary’s Gospel Chorus. In 1987, Pastor Lester Cousin named her President Emeritus of the Pastor’s Aid Society after serving as president for twenty four years.

Reverend Smalls met and married Leroy Smalls in 1944. To this union were born two sons; Roger Leon and Douglas Leroi. She had an immense thirst for learning and furthered her education in the White Plains public school system while being a devoted wife and mother. She obtained her high school equivalency diploma from the University of the State of New York in 1986.

Reverend Smalls accepted her calling, preached her first sermon and was licensed into the Gospel Ministry on September 17, 1986 by the Calvary Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. Lester Cousin. She was ordained to the Ministry on July 15, 1992 by the aforementioned church and its leadership. Reverend Smalls was also a graduate of the Manhattan Bible Institute of New York. Before her declining health, she served on the ministerial staff at Calvary Baptist Church and assisted Pastor Erwin L. Trollinger as assigned.

In addition to her faithful service to her church, she was also involved in other organizations; past President of the United Baptist Deacon’s Union and Deaconess Auxiliary of Westchester and Vicinity, member of the Working Churches of Westchester County and Vicinity since the 1960s, past Associate Matron of the Eastern Star, member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Empire State Convention, member of Church Women United, member of the Central Hudson Baptist Association Women’s Auxiliary, lifetime member of the NAACP and Chaplain of the Empire International Chaplain’s Association from 2005 until her declining health under the leadership of Bishop Henry Smalls. Reverend Smalls also volunteered for the Leukemia Society, Arthritis Foundation, Ruth Taylor Nursing Institute, and the Literacy Volunteers of America. She received numerous awards, certificates and citations for her religious and community contributions.

Reverend Smalls was predeceased by her husband Deacon Leroy Smalls. She leaves to cherish her memory her two sons Douglas L. Smalls and Reverend Roger L. Smalls; her daughter-in-law Joan L. Smalls; her grandchildren Gina Wade, Brandon Smalls and Christopher Smalls; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, loved ones and friends.


Her esteemed determination in life was to work for Christ until her days were done.


Favorite Scripture: Romans 1:16, KJV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16, KJV


Favorite Song: I'm Going To Work Until My Days Are Done

I’m going to work until my days are done.
I’m going work until the setting of the sun.
Then I’ll cease from sorrow.
There’ll be no tomorrow.
I’m going to work until my days are done.



The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that the Smalls family entrusted the care of their loved one to us, and that they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Smalls family during their time of bereavement.