of Mabelvale, AR
June 30, 1937 - December 18, 2019
The gates of heaven opened wide to receive Lydia James Smalling, 82, on December 18, 2019. Only God Himself knows the number of people she helped through teaching Sunday School, playing the organ, as well as her benevolence. It should be said that her strongest ministry was that she was known as a prayer warrior who prayed for everybody she knew and many she never knew.
Visitation and celebration of her life will be held from 5:00-7:00 pm on Friday, December 20, 2019, at Roller Drummond Funeral Home 10900 I-30. The memorial service will be held at Heritage Baptist Temple, 4910 Stagecoach Road at 1:00 pm on Saturday, December 21, 2019, with burial to follow at Forrest Hills Cemetery located at 10200 Highway 5, Alexander, Arkansas.
She is survived by her brother, Nolan Purtell and a sister, Maxine Laflamme; sons Perry (Stacy), Russell (Kim), Jeffrey (Angela) and daughter Kathi Ellison; grandchildren Anthony Caldwell, Christopher Caldwell, Travis Caldwell, April James, Jesse James, Amanda Latham, Tricia James, Rebecca James, Justin James, Crystal James, Trenton James, Logan James, and 14 great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her mother Elsie Hill-Purtell, her father Oliver Preston Purtell, sisters Dorris Jean Purtell, Lucille Brook and Marie Sugg; husbands, William Archibale James, and Ralph Wade Smalling.
Flowers may be sent to Roller-Drummond funeral home. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be sent to Little Rock Carti or The American Cancer Society.
I was blessed to grow up around Mrs. Lydia at Faith Baptist Church in Mabelvale. She was a sweet and kind lady. Prayers for the family.
What a great privilege it was to be called friend by this dear lady. She truly was a blessing to our family as she prayed for us and the ministries in which my daughter and grandchildren serve. Her love for the Lord, church and children was evident to all. We will see her sweet smiling face again as she welcomes us into heaven.
I am so fortunate to have had a mother-in-law that welcomed me into her family as if I was one of her own. Heaven gained another angel. Now both of my Moms are together. â¤ï¸
She was an incredible woman.