Gloria Jean Rose Smalls was born to Annie Jane Crawford and the late Benjamin Rose on August 1, 1953. She was reared from an early age by the late Dollie Young. She attended the public schools of Sumter County, and after graduation she received a nursing assistant certificate in Queens, NY. After many years in Brooklyn, NY, she returned home in 1980 where she worked in many areas of the medical field such as nursing assistant, radiology tech, phlebotomist, and Disability coordinator. She also has enjoyed working in customer service as a cashier and hotel front desk clerk. “Jeannie”, as she was affectionately known by family and friends, often laughed about her “gift of gab”. She never met a stranger and was always uplifting her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and encouraging others. Once she started talking about her faith and her love for God, you could barely get a word in. She is known for her radical praise and worship & her unwavering faith. She has served and assisted in many churches during her Christian journey. Her final mission was a work she began at Palmetto Towers, Sumter, SC, where she ministered each Sunday and held noonday prayer every Wednesday until her health declined. Jeannie leaves to cherish her memory: her daughter, LaShonda McElveen and son-in- law, Lee McElveen; one grandson, Desmond Mitchell; one granddaughter, Candace Mitchell, all of Sumter; an adopted “second daughter” Felicia Ragin Sams, and godson, Nathan Copeland known to her as “ Nate Nate”; her biological mother, Annie Jane Crawford of Aberdeen, NC; five sisters, Carrie Melvin of Brooklyn, NY, Ida (Eddie) Jackson of Fort Lauderdale, FLA, Larcenia Crawford of Aberdeen, NC, Cynthia (Henry) McRae of Whispering Pines, NC, Eyvonne Crawford of Southern Pines, NC; two brothers, Charles ( Evette) Rose of Baltimore, MD and Lester (Sylvia) Crawford of Hoffman, NC; one aunt, Modestine VanBuren of Sumter, and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives whom she loved dearly. In accord with the COVID 19 guidelines, the family is requesting that face masks and social distancing be observed by relatives and friends during visitation at the home of her daughter, 3340 Lauderdale Lane, Sumter. Funeral services will be held 1:00 p. m., Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 182 South Pike Road, Sumter, with the Rev. Dr. Aurelia Hill, Pastor, Bishop Alfred Smalls, officiating, Pastor LaShonda McElveen, Eulogist. The procession will leave from the home of her daughter at 12:15 p. m., Burial will be in the Sumter Cemetery.
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