James Smallins, Sr. Obituary

Jim and I worked together at Lomax and Nicholson Sporting Goods Store in Evansville, Indiana, during the 1952-53 school year. He was a student at Lincoln High School, an all-black school, while I attended Memorial High School, an almost all-white school. Jim was my first black friend. I hope he thought of me as a friend also. I remember his kindness and humility.

Jim was a profound educator and, without a doubt, a superior athletics coach.

Moreover, he was in fact an excellent role model and, as always, the perfect gentleman.

I love (present tense) him dearly.

Bless you my friend.

God Bless. RIP

His Brother Charles was my friend. Roberta you will be in my prayers and he will be missed.

A great administrator,teacher,mentor and coach R.I.H.

A great father, husband, leader and mentor to so many. Such a privilege to have been a friend to your sons and to have learned how to be a mentor to others.

Such a class act who did what it takes rather than take what was offered.

RIP James. Not just a leader....but a hero to so many.

Sending many blessings to Mrs. Smallins and family. His journey has only started. Love to all. Linda Maholias

Outstanding coach .

May his spirit live with you and bring you peace. My memory of Mr. Smallins is of a very professional and caring administrator during my years at Washington High School in the early 70's. I was very proud to walk through the halls and see him.

I am so glad I had an opportunity to spend some time with my Mentor. He will be truly missed.

To the family of James E Smallins, Sr. from the family of James E Rice of East Bend, NC please except our condolences for Jim. He and I worked together at Lincoln High School!!! And, being a basketball coach for a winning team of players automatically made for having an overwhelming relationship with both staff and student body. It also made for the establishment of an excellent community relationship. Rest in peace Jim and the community needs more of your kind!!
Jim Rice, former teacher and administrator of Lincoln High School.

Roberta, you and your family have our deepest sympathy and many prayers. This is such a loss of a very fine and admirable man! God Bless you!

My sincere condolences to the Smallins family. GOD bless your soul Coach.

My heartfelt Condolences to Mrs. Smallins and family. Mr. Smallins was a great role model to many of us students at Lincoln High School. Our basketball team excelled to great heights, and brought several championships to Lincoln Jr. & Sr. High School, due to his his awesome leadership, love and caring spirit for his team, and the students that he served. He was always a Class Act and a gentleman. RIH Mr. Smallins, and thank you for the positive impact and guidance that you had on many of our lives. I express much gratitude for the impressive memories, and positive Legacy that all of us who knew you, will never forget.
Lincoln Jr. & Sr. High School - Class of 67

Thank you for being a positive role model at Riverside. You were easy going and easy to talk to. You will be missed. Truly yours, Percival (Pj) Scott.

He was a gentle soul and a wonderful coach I will have fond memories of him always , Lincoln high school class of 71 .RIP

Praying for the Family . Mr Smallings was a great Coach

My deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family. Mr Smallins was the epitome of a great educator who loved his students and we loved him! Rest Peacefully "Lincoln Comet

I concur that Jim was a very good and Blessed individual with a wonderful wife and family.
I had the distinct pleasure of going to grammar and High School,plus playing ball with him.
The other recall was Jim,Roberts ,and I always came back to our Class reunion each time .
Im going to really miss that.
God bless him now and forever
Reuben

My prayers go out to your wonderful wife .
May the Lord shine his Grace upon you now and forever.

The Beverly family sends our love and condolences to Mrs. Smallins and family. -John, Pat, Jeen, Jumaine, Shernena, Ance Jr., and Romero.

You are sadly missed Mr. Smallins. Your smile and look at each student walking down Riverside hallways always made us feel welcome. You were stern but always kind and positive in showing us to always work hard and be the best we could be and to always be a leader, not a follower, I remember you saying that to me, Thank you. Mrs. Smallins and family, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Mr Smallins was simply the classiest of all gentlemen.
I know Is looking down on Roberta, Jimmie and Bobby with great pride.
RIP Coach Smallins

You were and will always be my favorite teacher.Rest in peace my dear friend your mission here is complete.

You will be missed Mr. Smallins !!
God bless you !!

Simply LOVE!!!!

Mr. Smallins is one of the parents who stands out from my high school life, as the father of Bobby and Jim. He had a memorable aura of peace, love and strength. Condolences to you and your Mom.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time of sorrow.

My condolences to you and the family may God continue to bless you and see you through

My deepest sympathy: I want to thank Mr Smallins for holding all the students to High standards and for keeping them out of the hallways ,You will be missed.See you in that big hallway in the sky.
Mr. Coach VP, friend James Smallins leader of men : Leon Brooks Juneau High

Roberta, Jimmy and Bobby...so sorry to hear this. I will be praying for Coach and Kathy and I will have some Massses said for him. God bless you always!

It was my pleasure to work with Jim on the WIAA Board of Control. He was a true gentleman and a wonderful husband and father. I was fortunate to know him.

I FIRST MET MR. SMALLINS AT ROOSEVELT JR. HIGH IN 1959. HE MADE AN IMMEDIATE IMPRESSION ON ME. HE WAS TRULY A ROLE MODEL FOR ALL OF US. RIP. TOM KENDRICKS

With a heavy heart, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the Smallins family.
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. I will be eternally grateful for
the influence Mr. Smallins had on my life. I would not be the person I am today without
the guidance of my mother and Mr. Smallins. He was a father figure to me at a crucial
time in my life. In my opinion, Mr. Smallins was a perfect human being, someone to look
up to and the BEST coach ever.

Peace and Love,
Fred Brown, Lincoln High School
Class of 1967

We were so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.

I did not have the opportunity to meet Mr. Smallins but I did have the pleasure of speaking with him last fall. I called him and thanked him for his legacy and paving a path for me. I informed him that I am the Ethnic Minority Rep and current president of the WIAA Board of Control. I am the first person African-American to hold the position. Without his service, being the first Ethnic Minority Rep on the WIAA Board of Control, my involvement and role would not have been possible. THANK YOU!

My prayers are with Coach and his family. Coach Smallins was a dear friend for many years. He gave me so much as a coach and as a man. We had such a great talk this past season after the game with Bay. A great Coach but truly a huge man for so many. We will all miss this giant
of a giving and caring man, but he will never be forgotten. ~ RIP ~ Coach, you did life so well.......Coach Luther

Mr. James Smallins was like a father to me, he grab a hold of me when I just started school at Milwaukee Washington High School. I was a young black brother good in all 3 sports. He introduced me to Basketball at the Milwaukee Bucks Basketball Camp at University School. I go to meet and play against Oscar Robertson, Greg Smith, Jon McGlockin , and Lew Alcindor. What a pleasure and moment in my life I will never forget. My he rest in peace and God has an excellent angel in his kingdom.

Love you always , God Bless

Our sincere condolences go out to you Rob and your family upon hearing of your loss. Our families crossed paths many times with yourswhether on the basketball courtfootball field or track. Your father was a man to be admired and respected.

My thoughts and prayers to the Smallins family. Mr. Smallins was our neighbor many years ago and was a great coach for our sons at Holy Family.
May he rest in peace. Jeri Kohler

Remember him from meeting at Latham park when he first came to Milwaukee. Dazzled all of us fellas in pick up games in the gym. Truly a person who had the best of character and talents and used them for the benefit of this entire community.

Coach. Teacher. Man. What a tremendous role model for so many. It was my honor and privilege to have been coached by him as a kid.
It was an even greater experience to talk basketball, teaching and life with Coach Smallins as an adult. He made us all better on and off the court. May his memory be a blessing.

Our sincere condolences and prayers in this difficult time. God bless you and your family

He was simple the best administrator, and athletic director at Juneau.. he will truly be missed.

Jim and Bob, your father was a great man and coach. Sorry for your loss. Jim O'Neill

He made sure that I wasn't going to be a failure. He stayed on me. Thanks Mr. Smallings. RUHS R.I.P

Favorite MPS Asst. Principal during my high school years, 1987-1991, at RUHS. He will greatly be missed❤

Jim will be remembered for his kindness to students and dedication to sports. I met him In my early days at Whitefish Bay High School to later years as a track parent.

Roberta and family, My deep sympathy for your loss. Mr. Smallins touched both his students and teachers with his kindness. He was a true gentleman.

In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.

Classy man. Gentle but tough soul. He cared deeply for his students despite our continual immature behavior.
I know....I was one of them.
Blessings to the family and Rest In Peace MR. SMALLINS!
Thankful for you.

Im so sorry for the loss of your husband Mr James Smallins, Jr. You have my deepest sympathy. He will truly be missed by all of us.

Thank you for the amazing years of service at Riverside, you were an amazing principal and always had your students in mind. The support you had for our several generations that you either taught or supervised, was not lost upon us.
Thank you The Fernandez/Hoeft family

We have loss a tremendous neighbor

As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.

Thank you Coach Smallins for all that you did for me, my family and so many people who looked up to you. I always tried to treat my players with the dignity and respect you gave everyone who crossed your path.

Mrs. Smallins, Jim and Bobby, you are in my prayers. Thanks for sharing your husband and dad with so many people. We will all miss him. I can still hear him say, "Gentlemen..."

I was deeply saddened by the news of Mr. Smallins passing. He was a great man! May the love of family and friends comfort you during these difficult days.

God bless you and your family. While at RUHS, he was my Vice Principal. He was a great example of an intelligent African American man who led with integrity! Thank you for your lasting influence.

Me. Small ins was an administrator at Riverside while I was there. He was always kind, interested and encouraging. A life well-lived. Sending love to his family.

Rest in peace Mr. Smallings. One of the most important administrators I've had the honor of knowing

I remembered Mr. Smallins during my years at Riverside. I'm truly sorry to hear of his passing. My deepest condolence goes out to his friends and family.

We will always think of Jim as a gentleman. His wisdom was always welcomed.

May you RIH

With fond memories of a great coach, mentor and man.

Roberta I worked in kitchen at hartford school and my children went to riverside, mr smallins was a wonderful man and teacher to my children and friends to my family, you also . the family has our deepest sympathy. I am also antoinette carini oldest sister, marion lococo zizzo love to the family.

My thoughts and prayers are for Jim's family and friends. He was such a good man. I had the pleasure of working with him at RUHS.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Roberta, Jimmy, Bobby and their whole family.

My condolences and prayers to the family and friends. We as your students will greatly miss u.

Mr. Smallins was a wonderful colleague. He was always very kind. Blessed to have had him as an administrator at Juneau. He helped a lot of students and always supported us teachers. God blessed us with his dedication to education.

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

Thank you for everything, Coach Smallins. You taught me so much about life. So your teachings live on through me. Love you and Mrs. Smallins very much.

This was a great man. He taught me to like basketball and what it meant to be a great player. Just the conversation about life was great. He was a great man, mentor and just a great friend. You will be truly missed Mr Smallins. Thank you for everything that you encourage me to do in life. Praying for the family. Much love. The Peavy Family

Your presence and guidance is still felt everyday in my life!
Thank you for wishing me luck, many years ago, and making sure I made it to the Downtown Greyhound bus station, in time, to catch the bus ride that changed my life.

Mr. Smallins had such an incredible influence on my life. I think of him often, and remember his patience and how he was determined that none of his students would be left behind. Such of gift of God to this world.

he was a caring man who looked out for the students, i'm sorry for giving him such a hard time when i was in his office.

IM LOST FOR WORDS,,,I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT HIM YESTERDAY 6.22.2019 ...HE WAS THE BEST ASST.PRINCIPLE ANY SCHOOL CAN HAVE... JUNEAU BUSINESS HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 86

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Mr. Smallins was a wonderful person; always looking out for others! Karen Stroebel Taylor

My deepest condolences to Mrs. Smallins and the rest of the family. Mr. Smallins was the asst. Principal at Juneau. He was always so kind to everyone and did his job very well. He was very respected by everyone. Prayers for all of you.

My condolences to the Smallin family. My prayer are with you.

My condolences to the Smallins family!

You will be missed, but always remembered by those students lives you touched!

Mr. Smallins was a grade level administrator when I attended Riverside from 85 -89. He always wanted the best for all students and was a very caring person. I send my condolences to his family. I always call people that I went to high school with at Riverside University high school family and he was one of those during the time I attended Riverside . My prayers and best wishes. He will be missed but always remember!

I am sad to hear this news, however Mr. And Mrs. Smallins have been a strong influence on my boys at Whitefishbay. We will miss him.

He always had a smile and something positive to say to me when I'd see him in the Juneau hallways. Always felt he was cheering me on, whether it was in sports or studies. Positive thoughts back at the family that you find peace and comfort.

RIP Mr. Smallins you always made Juneau halls a great place you will not be forgotten. Prayers to the Smallins family.

Mr. Smallins certainly made a difference to a lot of youths; mine included. Thank you Mr. Smallins. Until we meet again.

Mr Smallins had a great impact on me during high school. He was a man of honor and was well respected.

Prayers to the family. Sorry for your loss. During my time at Juneau I spent some time visiting Mr Smallins' office. He was an inspiration and helped me out a lot. Rest in peace.

In loving memory of a wonderful person. Thank you for believing in me when I didn't believe in myself. A wonderful principal. D Taylor c/o 85 Juneau HS

I went through a very tough time in school and he was very kind and helpful

Thanks for all u have done for Milwaukee YOUTH.

Mr. Smallins may you Rest In Peace sir. You were always a kind and compassionate leader. Your smile lit up every hallway you traversed. You were a treasure to many of us at Juneau. Thank you for always supporting me and encouraging me to reach beyond the stars. Gods Speed.

Sending my prayers

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

What a great influence throughout my high school years....