Harley Whiting Smallwood earned his wings on September 16, 2017. He was born on January 25, 1946 to Charles A. (Bernice) Green and Virginia Betty Lee (Lawrence) Smallwood-Thomas. He attended Frederick High School in Frederick, MD and served in the United States Army from 1963-1969 as an Army Ranger during the Vietnam War. Harley worked as a Life Skills Educator (LSE) and Consultant for the Institution of Life Coping Skills at Columbia University-Teachers College. He also worked with L.E.A.D. First Foundation as a Youth Consultant. Harley was a true Renaissance Man. He loved to write poetry, experiment in the culinary arts, study African-American literature and history, listen to jazz, dance to the sound of music and relish the holistic approach to health and wealth. Harley will always be remembered for his life’s work to empower young people, witty sense of humor, colorful language and unwavering sense of realism and truth. He was a loving husband, father, brother, son, uncle, nephew, mentor and friend.

Harley Whiting Smallwood is preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Anna Mae Smallwood Ferguson; father, Charles A. Green; mother, Virginia Betty Lee Smallwood-Thomas; step-father, Lawrence I. Thomas; sister, Helena C. Walker; and nephew, Troy Thomas. Harley Whiting Smallwood is survived by his wife, Stephenie Rhodes Smallwood of Corpus Christi, TX; step-mother, Bernice M. Green of Frederick, MD; three children, Kamau (Jinaki) Bright and Amani Bright both of Philadelphia, PA and L. Brionne Rhodes of Corpus Christi, TX; four sisters, Gertrude “Gert” (Richard) Thompson-Pitts of Vineland, NJ, Petrisia “Trisha” (Leon, Jr.) Barber of Kernersville, NC, Anna Laurencine Thomas of Frederick, MD and Cynthia Green of Frederick, MD; five grandchildren, Khaya, Kamani, Kamirah, Craig “Cash” and Philo; aunts and uncle, Joan Ann Smallwood-Lyles, John Disney and Emmeta Smallwood all of Frederick, MD; nieces and nephews, John T. Thompson, Jr., Larry Thompson, Jr., Tanya Thomas-Plummer, Chanda Thompson, Brian Thompson, Kelle Thompson Dockery, Isaac Barnes, Joshua Spivey and Henry Savior; and many close friends, countless mentees and numerous cousins across the United States and in Puerto Rico.

The Gathering - Celebration of Life for Harley Whiting Smallwood will be on Sunday, September 24, 2017 at Corpus Christi Funeral Home, 2409 Baldwin Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78405. The viewing will begin at 3:00 pm, and the memorial service will begin at 4:00 pm. Following the memorial service, the repass will held at Westhaven Baptist Church Annex, 1502 Cliff Maus Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78416. In lieu of giving floral arrangements, the Rhodes-Smallwood family asks that donations to be made in the honor of Harley Whiting Smallwood to L.E.A.D. First Foundation at the following link www.paypal.me/LEADFirstFoundation

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