“Let not your heart, be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me.”  -John 14:1

MSG (Ret) Prince Smalls Jr., transitioned from life on earth to eternal life on December 6, 2024, at Baptist Health Hardin Hospital in Elizabethtown, KY.  He was born on February 26, 1953, in Hickory Hill Green Pond, South Carlonia.  He was blessed to have both adoptive and biological parents; the late Prince Smalls Sr. and Mamie Smalls; Ethel Nell (Davis) Sanders and Benjamin E. Brooks.    

He grew up in Walterboro, South Carolina and graduated from Walterboro Senior High School in 1971.  After high school he moved to New York City where he resided and worked as a Grocery Store Manager.  His adventurous spirit enabled him to move to Danbury, Connecticut where he gained employment until he decided to serve his country and joined the United States Army on January 4, 1980.  Children are a blessing and a gift from the Lord.  He was blessed with three biological children, one girl and two boys.  As a Military Soldier, he traveled the world, protecting and serving as an enlisted Army Mechanic at Fort Benning, Georgia; Germany; Fort Knox, Kentucky; and Korea.  He was a Gulf War Veteran serving in Operation Desert Storm. Hard working and determined, he worked his way up the enlisted hierarchy to the rank of Master Sergeant.  Upon his first tour to Fort Knox, Kentucky he met and married his present wife and best friend on May 27, 2000, and with this union he inherited two more children, 1 boy and 1 girl.  His profound Military career afforded him the opportunity to hold the position of NCOIC of Harmon Hall located at Fort Knox, Kentucky from January 2001 to June 2002.  Following that assignment, he joined the Nett Team and worked as a Mechanic Maintenance Supervisor/Instructor where he traveled to varies Military installations teaching and training young Army Soldiers.  After faithfully serving in the United States Army for 25 years and 10 months, he proudly retired.  Because of his passion and commitment to proficiently train Soldiers, he immediately gained employment with an Army Contractor at Fort Campbell, Kentucky as a USA Senior Logistics Coordinator.  With a drive to obtain further education, he attended Ashford University and received a Bachelor of Arts, Social and Criminal Justice Degree. His academic achievements and scholastic performance allowed him to be inducted into the Salute Veterans National Honor Society.     

MSG (Ret) Smalls loved life and spent most of his spare time boating, fishing, gardening, and sometimes hunting.  He enjoyed entertaining others, dancing and staying up to date with all genres of new and old music. You could find him locked in front of the television during football, basketball, and even baseball seasons.  He was a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers Fan.  Win, lose, or draw, it was always Steeler Nation.  Being a country boy from South Carolina, he loved to cook and eat.  He truly enjoyed all seafood, and outdoor grilling was one of his favorite things to do.  His motto was “You kill it and I’ll cook it”.  Prince never met a stranger; he had a way of growing on any and everybody both young and old.  He enjoyed helping people and sharing whatever gifts he was blessed to have.  He was a giving soul with a heart as big as Texas.  He had a style of his own, Stacey Adams shoes with a long suit coat and don’t forget his Steelers uniforms which he wore both during and after football season.  In addition, we cannot forget to include the variety of special edition retired Army hats he wore to ensure that he heard the words “Thank you for your service” Hooah!  

MSG (Ret) Smalls, lived a blessed and prosperous life for 71 years, impacting lives with his loving spirit, caring heart, jokes, and unforgettable, contagious laughter.  He was a war hero, loving husband, proud father, kind grandfather, concerned brother, loyal fishing partner, and dedicated friend.   

Preceding him in death, were his adoptive and biological parents, Prince Smalls Sr. and Mamie Smalls; Ethel Nell (Davis) Sanders and Benjamin E. Brooks; three brothers, Louis V. Smalls, Donald Sanders, and Daryl Brooks.    

He leaves behind to cherish his loving memories:  Loving Wife of 24 years Yolande Jackson-Smalls; two daughters, Jeanine Smalls, Jessica Jackson; three sons, Prince Smalls III, Sandell Smalls, Lamar Jackson III; three grandchildren, Makiyah Smalls, Iyla Smalls, Lamar Jackson IV; seven brothers, William Smalls, Johnnie Smalls, Ernest Brooks, Henry Sanders, Anthony Sanders, Eric Sanders, Chester Brooks; nine sisters, Verdell Dent, Jacqueline Davis Jones, Estelle Sanders, Annette Sanders, Kathleen Sanders, Sharon Sanders, Marlo Harris, Sharondee Brooks, Polly Ann Riley; one uncle, William Smalls; and a host of aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, Army buddies, special fishing partners, and many special friends.   

Visitation will be from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM, Thursday, December 19, 2024 and from 11:00 AM until 12:30 PM, Friday, December 20, 2024 at Chism Family Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Mr. Prince will be held at 12:30 PM, Friday, December 20, 2024 at the chapel of Chism Family Funeral Home. A graveside service with military honors will follow at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central, Radcliff, KY.