Mrs. Lillian Graham Small Biography

Lillian Graham Small, born June 11, 1911 in Jacksonville, Florida, departed this life in Richardson, Virginia on May 2, 2003. She was the daughter of late Elijah J Graham, Esq. (1884-1946) and Annie Spears Graham (1889-1946). The oldest of three siblings, she was the granddaughter of Elijah and Janie Bell Spears.

Reared in Jacksonville, Florida, Lillian graduated from Stanton High School in 1929 and Florida A&M University in 1934. She received a Master’s Degree from Columbia University in 1953. Teaching in the Jacksonville Community for forty-two years brought Lillian much joy and satisfaction. She began her teaching career at Mayport Elementary School in 1934. She retired in 1976.

On June 4, 1936, she was married to James P. Small and they were blessed with one daughter, Jacquelyn. Lillian was widowed in 1975.

Lillian, a lifelong member of Historic Mount Zion A.M.E. Church, took example from her mother in being committed to service to her church. She rendered time, effort and resources to numerous organizations in the church. She was an Emeritus Trustee and a member of the Stewardess Board, The Blanche Coleman Friendly Club, The Mary F. Handy Missionary Society, The East Florida Conference Branch Women’s Missionary Society and The Jacksonville Historical Society. She was a member of the East Florida Conference Branch. She was also a fifty year member of the Jacksonville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

She is survived by her daughter, Jacquelyn Small Thomas of Richmond, Virginia, who is the Vice President Emeritus of the JP Small Foundation, Inc.

The Board has voted in December 2009, to add Mrs. Lillian Graham Small name to the foundation, renaming the foundation as The J. P. & Lillian G. Small Foundation, Inc.