Ernest Small

Ernest Small was born March 25, 1959, to Willie Bell Small and the Late Jimmie Small Sr. in Houston County, Alabama. He was the eighth of seventeen children. Family members and close friends affectionately knew him as “Tator”. He accepted Christ at an early age and attended Smithville Baptist Church. He played football throughout school and graduated from Dothan High School in 1978.

Ernest accepted the call to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Army in 1979. His tours of duty included Fort Lewis Washington, Germany, and various duty stations in the United States. After serving in the Military, he was employed by the City of Dothan for many years.

After joining the military, Ernest dedicated his life to Christ while attending a close friend’s church. Later that year, Ernest was called into ministry and began Agape Center’d Fellowship in 1990. For many years, he worked with the “Dothan Rescue Mission Board”, the “Save a Life” program, and assisted with “The Walk for Life.”

Ernest married his soul mate, Lynn Necheil Small in 1988; Ernest and Lynn parented four beautiful children; Ernest Timotheus Small, Christa Melody Small, Justin Stephanas Small, and Aaron Mathias Small. They loved and cherished their children. God called Lynn and two sons (Justin & Aaron) home in December 2001.

On October 09, 2020 God called the beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin, son-in-law, brother-in-law, friend, and hero home.

Ernest was preceded in death by his loving wife, Lynn Necheil Small; two sons, Justin Stephanas Small and Aaron Mathias Small. He was also preceded in death by his father, Jimmie Small Sr.; three brothers, Jimmie Small Jr., Bobby Small and Willie Frank Small; two sisters, Emma Lee Small and Seletha Re’nea Small; and a nephew, Keith Antonio Small.

He leaves as a legacy, two children, Ernest Timotheus Small & Christa Melody Small; three grandchildren, Isaiah Christian Small, Olivia Lynn Small and Aubrey Claire Small; a loving mother, Willie Bell Small; three brothers and eight sisters, Dorothy Cogman (Larry), Dothan, Al, Henry Small (Marcia), Dothan, Al, Mamie McCory(Ben), Dothan, Al, Lueritha Lang (Johnny), Dothan, AL, Shirley Denise Reaves, Dothan, Al, Steve Small, Columbus, Ga, Rosie Small-Fields, Orange Park, Fl, Mary Elizabeth Carroll(James), Dothan, Al, Sametha Re’nea Colvin, Dothan, Al, Twanda Small, Dothan, Al and Mark Small, Atlanta, Ga.; an aunt, Lillie Mae Sistrunk, Cottonwood, Al; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2020 at 11:00 am in Sunset Funeral Home Chapel. Burial with military honors will follow in Sunset Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services.

Robert and Toni Byrd · Sunset Memorial Park

1700 Barrington Rd, Midland City AL · (334) 983-6604