Mary Lee Smalls was born January 3, 1951 to the late Agnes (Easter) Smalls and Winfield J. Smalls of Edisto Island, South Carolina. She was the youngest of five children. She departed life on December 22, 2018 in Charleston, South Carolina where she resided for most of her adult life.
Mary Lee Smalls was raised to early adulthood on Edisto Island, South Carolina. She attended Jane Edwards Elementary School on Edisto Island, and Baptist Hill High School on Yonges Island--both schools are in the Charleston County Public School System.
Mary spent several years in the state of New York before enlisting in the United States Army. While in the Army she worked as an administrative specialist, and she attained the rank of a non-commissioned officer. She was also employed by the Veterans Administration Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina for a number of years.
Mary was twice united in holy matrimony. No children were born into either of the unions, and unfortunately each marriage ended in divorce.
Mary was a freedom loving, independent person who loved flowers, and enjoyed visiting the sick. She was a private person with few associates who knew her well. She collected phrases and written artifacts that inspired, motivated and/or provided her with insight. Old letters, clippings, and inspirational expressions gave her solace.
To cherish her memories, Mary is survived by one sibling Elnora Crawford of New York City; (three siblings preceded her in death: Lucille Johnston, Dorothy Smalls, and Willie J. Smalls). She is also survived by six nieces, Cherry Smalls of Edisto Island, SC; Denise Phillips of Charleston, SC; Zelda Kirk of New Jersey; Yvonne Cruise, Cozetta Crawford-Mutry, and Diane Anderson of New York; seven nephews, Lawrence Smalls of Greensboro, NC; Wendell Smalls of Fayetteville, NC; Clarence Smalls of Charleston, SC; Eddie Cruise of New York; Gary Cruise of Colorado; Darryl Smalls and Willie Smalls, Jr. of Virginia; Carlos Smalls of Georgia; and two grand-nieces in whom she took special interest, Felicia Lucas of Panama City, Florida; Allegra Crawford of New York City; and a host of relatives and friends.