Gregory Bennette Smallwood

Life as He Lived It Gregory Bennette Smallwood was born to his loving parents Ralph Tyrone Smallwood, Senior (Deceased) and Burnice Lorraine (Smallwood) Jenkins on Thursday, November 8, 1962 at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. Greg (Mom’s Peck) started his education at Saint Peter’s Catholic School on 3rd Street in Washington, D.C., and attended schools in D.C. and Maryland during his formative years. He attended West Springfield Senior High School, West Springfield, Virginia, where he excelled as a semi-football player. His mother is his “Queen”. His respect and admiration for her showed and made it impossible not to see how much he appreciated her. There were many life stories shared. He discussed that he lived his life as he saw fit! There were many discussions of his times with his family. Greg often said that he played a major role with them--you didn’t put your hands on the “women” in his family. He held many nicknames: Fatty (childhood name); Peck (his Mommy’s nickname); and Wood (his friend’s name). His Aunt Sharon nick-named him “Peter” because it didn’t take much to take him to another level. Greg and Linda formed a close friendship in mid-1980’s, and after several years, it developed into love and this friendship then became a husband-and-wife union. They were one another’s soul mate. Greg was a “Step-Up” man. He took on his wife’s 2 children: Nicinia Quinone Burton and Earnest E. Johnson, Jr., and their stepson Earnest Anthony Lawrence; 4 grandchildren: Shanika Tiara Gaines; Derrian Jordan Johnson; Joshua Isiah Williams and Merill E. Branch, III; and 3 great grandchildren: Dominique Mayhem; Nadia Gwendetta Lee Neal and Inari M. Johnson. According to his wife’s family, Greg & Linda were the shadows of “Bonnie & Clyde”—you didn’t see Greg without Linda and Linda without Greg. There love was unconditional, and many witnessed it. Pursing courses in Business later paid off for him. He became a Partner and Cleaning Authority to their Evictions and Cleaning business, licensed as Mack’s No Hold Over Evictions & Cleaning, headquartered in Maryland. He felt that he finally was able to succeed at his dream of having his own business—and he was proud of himself and his work. Those who knew him well, knew he was a “people’s person” and he certainly enjoyed talking junk! He was spontaneous, unpredictable, and annoying at times but loved interacting with any and almost everyone. The one admirable part of him was he would fight when needed, cry when he would hurt and be the first to apologize when he was wrong. He has so many friends and many women admirers. In his father-in-law eyes, he considered him a “Mayor” causes he knew so many people. His way with people was amazing. He could pull anyone together for a great time. His love and respect for his Mother allowed his wife to receive the same level of love and respect. He had his set of favorite people to hang out with his cousins Eric Porter, Erica Porter and Manna Gross and he later adopted a close friend as his brother, Tharon Madden and his sister/daughter Kimberly Murray. Children loved him and seniors could relate to him and his straight up personality! Overtime, he began to have medical issues and these issues were painful. He didn’t share this with anyone but his wife. He would not accept getting older because he felt he was “Too Kool A Kat To Be Old”! On Tuesday, May 11, 2021, it was sudden and unexpected and of course, many members are now hurting from it. Spiritually speaking to everyone attending and/or watching this memorial service today, he needs you to know that he appreciates you being here. He enjoyed acting up with you and enjoyed just being your family member and friend. He leaves behind his wife and long-term companion, Linda Smallwood and their children: Nikki & EJ and Tony, their grandchildren and their great grandchildren. His mother Burnice Jenkins and pop, Eugene Jenkins, his brother, Ralph Tyrone Smallwood and his wife Sheila Smallwood, his favorite aunt, Julie Dennis, his sister-in-law Theresa Williams and brother-in-law, Arvine (Bay) Williams. His favorite nieces: Tanyelle Butler & Dakota Jones and favorite nephews: Jarrette Williams, Alonzo Williams and Donnellray Cheadle as well as a host of cousins and friends. We love him. We will miss him. Life will be different without him. When football season comes around and you hear someone screaming from the top of his voice, know that it is Greg cursing out the Washington Football team aka “Redskins” and hate for the “Dallas Cowboys”!!!