Recently, Ella Mae Small has had a personal soundtrack to her global travels.
Small, 74, was in Italy this summer in the company of the Gethsemane AME Zion Church of Charlotte, as they performed in many of the country’s cathedrals. Small did not sing with the group.
Small is the single candidate entered to finish the two-year two left vacant by the death of her husband Councilman Allen Small in June 2006. She was chosen by City Council in August 2006 to fill out her husband’s seat until the election.
“The building and churches — they were fascinating,” Small said the architecture in Italy. “It’s almost unbelievable. They are majestic.”
On the trip, Small visited Rome, Italy and Venice.
“(The choir) actually sang in Italian and did an excellent job,” said Small, who added that the group was able to sing for a regular church service in Rome.
Small has previously joined the choir on a visit to Canada.
Travel is one of Small’s greatest hobbies, she said.
With her late husband, she was able to travel to no less than three Super Bowls — one in New Orleans and Florida twice — through a loved one who used to referee games.
“I wasn’t that interested in going, but Allen said, ‘I’m going anyway,” she said. “I said, ‘I’ll pack my bags.’”
Rev. Donald Anthony got to know Small and her late husband through their heavy community involvement when he moved to the community 10 years ago.
“She’s always had the community at her heart,” Anthony said. “She seems to have created her own persona on (City Council). I believe she
He said Small has really taken the lead on a revitalization of the Logan Community that is still in the development process.
“She has stayed up the with project,” said Anthony, who is also involved with the project.
“She has stayed right with project,” he said, “so that what is developed is the best product for the Logan Community, but also for the city at large.”
Small, a Hickory native, has been a leader in the community for many years. She was a Concord educator of 42 years and was one of the first two kindergarten teachers in Concord City Schools, later Cabarrus County Schools.
— Eric C. Deines
