Margaret Anne Kelley Small, 83, passed away peacefully on April 19, 2021 surrounded with love and family at home. She fought a long battle with metastatic breast cancer over the past 15 years and showed amazing strength to the end.
Born in Lake City, TN to Margaret and William Kelley, Margaret Anne was adored by all from the beginning. She was passionate about meeting people, reading books and knowing God from a very young age and she had a way of making everyone feel like family.
While attending East High School in East Knoxville, Margaret Anne met Robert “Bobby” Small and soon realized he was “the one”. They were married and started a family while Bob was attending medical school. Dr. Small and Margaret were married for 30 years and raised six children in Stevensville, MI. She was a devoted wife and loved having babies and being a mother. She was an advocate for breastfeeding and recognized the significance of the bond between mother and baby. In the 60’s, Margaret was one of the first members of LaLeche and became a community leader supporting mothers struggling with breastfeeding their children.
Margaret Anne was a committed Christian and lived each day to serve the Lord. She dedicated her life to Christ in high school and her faith was her guide throughout her life. Margaret Anne participated in and taught many bible studies, became a Young Life leader to reach high school youth (and her teenage children), belonged to several church families and led many people to Christ over the years.
Margaret Anne was predeceased by her mother, Margaret “Peggy” Sharp; father, William “Billy” Kelley; brother, Cecil “Buzzy” Kelley; her eldest son, John Small- who lost his battle with cancer on March 5, 2020 and her fiancé, George Bailey, who passed in December 2020. She leaves behind five children; Robyn, Sherry, Jim, Joe and Lindsay Scott and seven grandchildren; Teddi, Clark, Dirk, Skylar, Dayton, Zoe and Ula.
Family will receive friends Saturday, May 8th from 11am-1pm at Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home in Knoxville, TN with funeral service to follow at 1pm with Pastor Hartsell McCurry officiating. The family will host a catered reception at the conclusion of the service. All friends and family are invited to attend. Flowers and cards may be sent to the funeral home.
The Funeral Service will be livestreamed for those who are unable to attend, which can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/BerryLynnhurst.
Graveside service and burial will be a small private gathering in Rocky Top the following day, Mother’s Day, Sunday May 9, 2021.
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