Mrs. Earnestine Small

SMALL, Mrs. Earnestine - age 71, passed away Sunday, May 11, 2014 at Genesys Health Park. Family hour 3 p.m. Sunday, May 18, 2014 at Ebenezer Ministries, 2130 S. Center Rd., Burton, MI with funeral service commencing at 3:30 p.m. Interment Evergreen Cemetery, 3415 E. Hill Rd, Grand Blanc, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the Church 3:00 p.m. Sunday. Mrs. Small will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. and may be viewed from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Ms. Earnestine (Neely) Small was born July 4, 1942 in Shelby County, Tennessee to the union of the late Willie and Mattie B. Neely and was the 5th of 12 children. She graduated from Woodstock High School. Earnestine professed Christ at an early age while attending Little John Baptist Church where she was a member until her adult years. Earnestine was a faithful and active member of Ebenezer Ministries, under the leadership of Bishop Urundi Knox. She enjoyed serving as one of the leaders for the Youth Usher Board and was a member of the CK Travelers. Earnestine also was an active member of Zeta Amicae Auxiliary of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She was a dedicated employee of General Motors Corporation and retired after 31 years of service. After retiring, Earnestine spent her time and efforts on event planning and decorating for weddings and other special events. She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother, an excellent cook and she loved to travel. She also enjoyed entertaining family and friends. Ms. Earnestine (Neely) Small leaves to cherish her memory: two daughters, Yolanda Small of Orlando, FL and Leatrice Small of Flint; one grandson, Denatio (Sharika) Orr of Orlando, FL; three great-grandchildren Antione and Jacobe of Orlando, FL and Joi of Flint, MI; three sisters, Robbie Jean Hardaway, of Colorado Springs, CO, Nellie (Milton ) Kelly, of Memphis, TN., and Willester Walton of Jacksonville, FL.; three brothers, Willie (Mary) Neely of Nashville, TN., Kenneth (Jackie) Neely, of Wichita, KS and Norman (Gwendolyn) Neely of Atoka, TN; Five Sisters-in-Law, Wilma Sisco, of Memphis, TN, Mildred Sisco, Jacqueline Neely, Janise Neely and Carolyn Small all of Flint; god children, Jason Moore, David, Dana, Darrian and Danae Bush; god sisters, Sandra, Bobbie, Lynne, Catherine and Gail; a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends, including special friends Sam and Vivian Neely, Florence Davis and Melvin Sparks, Deacon James and Earline Hawkins, Brenda Waits, Rev Annie Duncan, Christine Henderson, and Raymond and Lerlean Campbell. Ms. Small was preceded in death by: her parents; two sisters, Paula Neely and Bernice Fordham; four brothers, JT, Lonnie, Leslie and Calvin Neely; and granddaughter, Ashlee Orr. The Small and Neely families would like to express special thanks to Bishop Urundi B. Knox and the Ebenezer Ministries Church family, Regency Point of Grand Blanc, RRC Dialysis team, Dr. Shaouri and Dr. Riveria.

Mrs. Earnestine Small

July 4, 1942 - May 11, 2014