Alex James Smalls was born on September 1, 1939 in St.
Stephen, SC to the late Willie and Lula Smalls.
Alex spent his early years in St. Stephen where he, despite
amazing odds and personal challenges, proudly graduated from
Russellville High School's Class of 1958.
Shortly after graduation, Alex moved to the Washington, D.C.
area with high hopes and aspirations. It was then that he met the gem
who would eventually become his wife, Sue. In forty-nine years of
holy matrimony, their union was blessed with three daughters; Gail,
Angie, and Crystal.
Alex always had an entrepreneurial spirit and for a brief time
even ran his own cleaning business. His path led him to Woodward &
Lothrop where he worked for 27 years before he retired. He later
also worked for Hughes Supplies and retired again after eight years of service.
As an active member of Shiloh Baptist Church, Alex
volunteered at every opportunity. He served as president of Circle
Thirteen, was a member of the men's ministry, sang with the Male
Jubileers, and participated on the security ministry.
He loved his family dearly and took every opportunity to
show it. Experiencing his cooking was his family's greatest joy. While
he had only three daughters, hosts of close friends and family came to
affectionately call him Dad, Pop, and PaPa.
On Tuesday, July 7, 2009 he fell asleep after valiantly fighting
several months of illness.
Alex was preceded in death by his parents, Willie & Lula
Smalls; a sister, Wilhelmena Suber; and a brother, Robert Smalls.
He leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife, Sue Smalls,
daughters, Gail (Tony) Dingle, Angie (Whitfield Sr.) Richardson,
Crystal (Albert) Gonzalez; twelve grandchildren, Tonya (Eric)
Hanton, Maurice (Renee) Henderson, Albert Jr. (Angel) Gonzalez,
Nazerine Henderson, Whitfield Richardson, Enoch Henderson, Alexia
Gonzalez, Alex Gonzalez, Whitney Richardson, Jonathan Dingle,
Ashlee Gonzalez, Kristian Dingle; three great-grandchildren, Anthony
Gonzalez, Kylah Hanton, Morgan Hanton; and a host of cousins,
nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

The funeral service will be held Monday, July 13, 2009 in the Vaughan-Guynn Chapel at 2:00 PM. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until time for the service. Interment will follow in the Oldtown Cemetery.