Lenna Elizabeth Small was born on June 19, 1940, in St. Mary's, Jamaica, West Indies, one of seven children raised by her parents, Marvin and Hannah Small, in a home that valued faith, hard work, and the strength of family. From a young age, she embodied all those values and carried them with her through every stage of her life. In the late 1960s, Lenna made the bold decision to leave her homeland and migrate to the United States with courage and determination. She embraced the unknown and began building a new life in Brooklyn, NY. She arrived under a childcare taker sponsorship, using that opportunity not only to support her family but to create a foundation for future generations. Soon after, she applied for her beloved mother and two young children, Yvonne Ming (daughter) and Charles Ming (son) to join her. She was never one to forget where she came from or who she loved. She later filed for her siblings to join her in the U.S., helping to reunite the family across borders. That act alone speaks to who she was selfless, dependable, and fiercely loyal.

Her heart for care extended beyond her own family. She took a position at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in Brooklyn, where she worked for decades as a certified nursing assistant. Whether she was caring for a child or an elderly patient, her compassion always shined through. Not long after, she found love again and welcomed her third child, Bernard Maitland (son) into the world in 1976. With each role she embraced mother, sister, caregiver, partner she did so with grace, warmth, and unwavering dedication. But beyond caregiving, she was a woman of vision and business. With keen judgment and discipline, she invested in several properties across Brooklyn and Florida, a move that not only created generational wealth but also allowed her to enjoy the finer things in life. Her real estate ventures gave her the freedom to retire early after more than 40 years of service and to begin a new chapter in Tampa, Florida. In her retirement, she sold her properties, transitioned gracefully, and enjoyed the fruits of her labor. She was a Proverbs 31 woman in every sense. A nurturer, a provider, a wise steward of her resources, and a woman of deep faith. She was always available to lend a helping hand, especially to her sisters and brothers, with whom she shared a bond rooted in love and support. She found joy in the simple pleasures of life, cooking, baking, sewing, and knitting. When she wasn't working or tending to family, you could find her worshiping faithfully at The Rugby Deliverance Tabernacle Church in Brooklyn, NY. Her faith was her anchor steady, sincere, and unwavering. Lenna was the matriarch, the pillar, the quiet force behind so many successes in her family. She didn't just build a life she built a legacy. One of strength, grace, dignity, and generosity. Though our hearts are heavy, we also feel immense gratitude. Grateful for her love, her example and her legacy, which lives on through each of us.

Lenna is survived by her two sons, daughter, one brother, one sister, a daughter-in-law, five granddaughters, one grandson, two great-grandchildren with another expected this month, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. We all love her and will miss her dearly. May her soul rest in eternal peace, and may we honor her memory by living with even a fraction of the strength and faith she showed us every day.