Mrs. Sheila Faye Small Glover

April 20, 1962 - March 4, 2020

Condolences are being expressed to the family of Mrs. Sheila Faye Small Glover, age 57, who passed away on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at Hock Family Pavilion, 4023 N Roxboro Street, Durham, North Carolina 27704. Sheila Faye Small Glover was born at Lincoln Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, to Rosa Williamson Small (deceased) and William Thomas Small, Jr. on April 20, 1962. Sheila graduated from Charles E. Jordan High School in Durham, N.C., and attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and North Carolina Central University, where she majored in Political Science. She learned the value of hard work and the importance of family togetherness with her cousins by working on Granddaddy and Granny Williamson’s farm in Clinton, N.C. Sheila learned to love the ocean and cook seafood from the Small family who came to Wilmington, N.C., via Jamaica. She was baptized at the Church of the Abiding Savior, Lutheran Church where she developed leadership skills and learned the value of service. Her participation in “Are you Listening?,” a program expressing the spirit of African American culture for the wider Lutheran church community, frequently took the youth group to Minnesota and to conferences across the United States. Sheila’s beautiful soprano voice and flare for dramatic expression was nurtured at Abiding Savior. In high school, Sheila attended the national ‘Luther League’ youth gathering of 10,000 youth and returned from the event as the Vice President of the organization. She also served as chairperson of the National Minority Youth Advisory Committee. Throughout college, Sheila continued national and international work on behalf of Lutheran youth in the U.S. She served as a United States delegate to the World Council of Churches and represented U.S. Lutheran youth in the Philippines (during the Aquino revolution!), West Germany, British Columbia, Egypt, and Mexico. She loved traveling and meeting people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Locally, she served as youth minister, nursery school teacher, and youth choir minister. Sheila loved to positively impact the lives of young people. In 1998, Sheila met Clarence Glover and they were joined in matrimony in Wilmington, N.C., on May 30, 1999. She joined Clarence at Union Baptist after their marriage. Sheila loved her church community and particularly enjoyed her work with the women’s spirit ministry. Sheila was an exceptional and detail-oriented event planner. She was the ‘go to’ person for events in Durham. She adored working with people and being engaged in her community. She began her career as catering director for the Sheraton Hotels in Durham and received multiple awards, including their Hospitality Award of Excellence. In 1993, Sheila and her mother launched Small & Associates, an event planning company. Small & Associates planned numerous events for the Durham community, as well as Sheila’s family and friends. Some of her most memorable events include the Julius L. Chambers Scholarship Ball, Edible Arts, Durham Arts Council and the North Carolina Central University Jazz Montrose Fundraiser. In 2005, she returned to the hospitality industry, working in Raleigh, Goldsboro, and Winston-Salem. She served on many boards, including the Society of Government Meeting Planners, Durham Arts Guild, National Association of Black Meeting Planners, and Durham Business and Professional Women. In 2019, Sheila was honored as an Ebonette Business Woman in Hospitality. Sheila is survived by her husband, Clarence Glover; two sons, Troy Miller (Brianna) and Stephon Miller; daughter, Nikki May (Michael); father, William T. “Bill” Small; sister, Maria Jacqueline Small; grandchildren, Laila Miller, Daizha May and Makenzie May; uncles, Samuel Williamson Jr. (Mary), Willard Smith, Jr. (Frannie), Joseph L. Small (Thenia), Donald R. Small, Walter D. Small (Scarlett), Julius A. Small (Linda); aunts, Velma Small (Richard), Barbara “Babs” Lula Fryar (Joseph), Mary Alice Watkins, Altheria Smith Patton, Bessie Smith Dozier (Richard); godmother, Almeta ‘Toni’ Jordan (Samuel); godchildren, Brandon Jarrett, Michael Jarrett, Zylvia Lawson, Zizi Monroe Lawson, Symone Parker, Jonathan Parker, and Lindsey Parker; ‘sisters’ Gwynn Swinson, Karen Jordan, Geena Tolbert, Tamara Coyne Beasley, Judy Parker, and Ruth Lawson. “Aunt She” and “Cousin She Faye” is cherished by a plethora of loving family members and a village of caring friends. Sheila’s bright eyes, beautiful smile, and enthusiastic spirit inspired everyone who met her. Her favorite Bible verse was: “What does the Lord require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.” (Micah: 6-8) A Service of Celebration has been scheduled for Friday, March 13, 2020, at Union Baptist Church, 904 N Roxboro Street, Durham, North Carolina 27701. The family will assemble for a visitation from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., followed by the celebration service, at 11:45 a.m. respectively. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to: -The Smith Family Scholarship Fund, or -Rosa W. Small Scholarship Fund Memo: Ivy Community Center, or -North Carolina Central University Foundation Incorporated Gifts will be designated to the William T. Small, Jr. and Rosa Williamson Small Endowed Scholarship Fund (Account # [email protected]) Send gifts to the NCCU Foundation, PO Box 19363, Durham, NC 27707 or online http://everyeagleeveryyear.org/