A Life Celebration will occur on
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Service: 11:00 a.m.
Wood Funeral Home, Inc.
5537-39 West Girard Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131
Interment: Fernwood Cemetery
The Reverend Doctor Gloria J. Smallwood, daughter of the late Reverend William H. Smallwood and the late Reverend Mrs. Ruth (Jones) Smallwood transitioned from labor to reward on Friday, July 21, 2023.
She received her early education in the public schools of Philadelphia. She was a graduate of Lower Merion Junior High School and John Bartram High School. Gloria earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Cheney University; a Masters Degree in Education from Temple University; a Masters Degree in Theology from Pacific School of Religion; and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University California (Berkeley).
Gloria taught at every level from elementary to university in Philadelphia, Pa.; Denver, Colorado (University of Denver); the School Districts of Oakland, California and San Francisco, California; and at Pacific School of Religion (Berkeley, California).
She was also a member of the faculty of City Wide Interdenominational Christian Training Institute (CWICTI), which was founded by the late Reverend Martha Lang and the late E. Larry Lang in Philadelphia for the purpose of training Christian leaders.
While living in Denver, Colorado, and being actively involved in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Gloria felt a call to ministry and was ultimately ordained an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church by the late Bishop H. Hartford Brookins in the Fifth Episcopal district, in Oakland, California.
Reverend Gloria pastored churches in Chico, California; Reno, Nevada; and San Francisco, California. After returning to the East Coast, Gloria assisted in pastoring churches in the Second Episcopal District (Maryland) of the A.M.E. Church and in the First Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church in Philadelphia (Allen A.M.E. Church)
Gloria was adventurous, industrious, artistic, creative and entrepreneurial. In retirement she began designing and producing hand-crafted, Scripture- based artwork under the logo W.T.H.O.G. (With the Help of God) as a ministry called “God Graphics”.
Gloria’s smile could light up a room. She had a “bounce back” spirit that wouldn't allow adversity to win. She was wise, inspirational and encouraging, always speaking words of faith birthed from the fires of affliction. She always “had your back” if she loved you and she was rooted in love.
We will miss her sorely but are grateful for the memories we made together, and cherish that part of her that she instilled and invested in each of us. We are comforted to know this separation is only for a while. We love you, Glo!!!
Toni, Jennifer, Carole, Bill, Erica, Roslyn, and the many, many, others whose lives you touched.
