Rev. Shaughneysy Small Jr.

March 5, 1938-Feb. 12, 2019

My father, Shaughneysy Small Jr., was born into humble conditions. Experiencing hardships after his father separated from his mother, he learned the importance for a man to keep commitments and honest work to provide for himself and family. He lived by the principle, “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

His mother taught him the golden rule, to treat people the way you want to be treated. It helped him relate to people without emphasis on the color of a person’s skin. He approached people with optimism for a meaningful relationship, based on genuine respect, trust and care.

My father deeply loved my mother Ruth, his wife of 62 years, their seven sons, daughters-in-law and families. He eagerly anticipated holidays and special dates when the extended family gathered. There were lively discussions about the Christian life, current events and ways to solve problems in families and communities. He enjoyed playing games like bowling, billiards, spades, bid whist and board games. Bowling was a favorite activity with his sons, and one son went on to achieve a perfect game of 300 during league play.

He was keenly aware of setbacks, selfinflicted or by no fault of the individual. As a young adult, he made an unwise decision that negatively impacted his marriage and could have disrupted his future with his family and ministry. At a pivotal time, a wise Christian leader encouraged him to not give up, learn from the mistake and persevere to become all God created him to be.

The message about mercy and forgiveness, grace to get up, and God’s strength to press forward became a major theme of his ministry in the local church and community. He had experienced a second chance. He enjoyed helping people understand Jesus Christ’s life and Christ’s ability to change a life.

He was optimistic about life and believed all things were possible through God, including miracles. He encouraged family and friends to make the most of opportunities, to learn and to do their best with God-given abilities.

My father had the ability to see the potential for good in a person. Biblical teachings challenged him to love people and consider the needs of other people. He learned it was essential to seek forgiveness when he wronged someone and extend forgiveness when he was wronged. These qualities motivated him to promote racial reconciliation and to care genuinely for people regardless of the color of their skin. He had many friends from different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.

In the community, he was a strong advocate for disadvantaged families, encouraged public policies to strengthen families and communicated with civic and business leaders to expand hiring practices. Civic leaders often contacted him to help improve race relations and promote improvements for the greater Springfield community.

During the last years of his life, a heart condition limited his physical mobility, yet he remained optimistic and wanted to finish strong. He continued as a mentor with a passion for investing in people. One example is Randy, a man whom my father was drawn to and became close friends with. They had many discussions, frequently shared meals together and encouraged one another in the Christian life, as iron sharpens iron. Although they had different backgrounds and family history, my father and Randy shared an excitement for Jesus and love for their families. They were like salt and pepper in their close friendship.

Randy passed away in February 2017 at the age of 63 and my father helped officiate the funeral for his friend.

At my father’s funeral, the church was packed with people from all walks of life who had one thing in common: my father’s influence in their lives. In the obituary guest book, one person wrote, “The joy of the Lord was his strength, and he brought much joy to others. He will be greatly missed.”

Another note read, “He was a genuinely kind and compassionate person who showed love to everyone and was sincerely committed to sharing the truth of the Gospel. Our last visit with him and Sister Small was like a family reunion. He will be greatly missed!” While my father’s passing leaves a void in our family, his legacy will live on. One writer noted, “Truly we all have been blessed by God to have shared in the life of such an extraordinary man. Pastor Small’s vibrant spirit, infectious laugh and devotion to God shall forever be alive in our hearts.”

Jonathan Small is the second son of Shaughneysy Small Jr. and lives in the Oklahoma City area with his wife. He has been coming home to Springfield for 40 years on holidays and special occasions, which usually included inspiring discussions with his father.