Juanita Elizabeth Trigg

1927 - 2024

Juanita “Nita” Smalls Trigg, 97, of Bland Road, Bluefield, WV, passed away on August 2, 2024, at Bluefield Regional Medical Center after a short illness.  Born on July 17, 1927, in Roanoke, VA, she was the daughter of the late America Martin Smalls and Edward Smith Smalls, Sr. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Fennissee “Fenny” Trigg; six sisters:  Pauline (Vernon) Boyer, Kathleen (Pete) Freeman, Leatryce (Thomas) Anderson, Dorothy Burns, Mable (Sammy) Keith, Jeannie (Oliver) Johnson; three brothers:  Ed (Rubye) Smalls, Billy Smalls, and Donnie Smalls; son-in-law, Joseph Fourqurean Sr, and grandchild, Garrison Powers. Left to cherish and honor her memory are daughters, Carolyn (Thomas) Kennedy, Gahanna, OH, Rebecca Fourqurean, Lewis Center, OH, Lillian (Ahart) Powers Jr, Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Nicole (Sadaris) Cheatham, Winter Garden, FL, Joseph (Ashley) Fourqurean II, Lewis Center, OH; step-grandchildren, Ahart (Miki) Powers III, Japan, Derek (Binal) Powers, Winder, GA; great grandchildren, Mia and Sydney Fourqurean, Lewis Center, OH; step-great grandchildren, Dhylan Powers, Winder, GA and Tomo-Frances Powers, Japan; sisters-in-law, Mary Kate Smalls, Bluefield, WV, Brenda Smalls, Upper Marlboro, MD; special cousins, Joyce Madison, Fort Washington, MD, and Brenda Clarke, Miami Gardens, FL and Jean Carnegie, Hampton, VA; special friends & family, Bobby (Arlette) Saunders, Doug (Terry) Thompson, Ristina Robinson, Steve (Shawn) Williams, Ronnie (Susan) Dodson, Josephine (the late Ralph) Poe, Yvonne Harris, Shane Cadle, Bonnie, Myria, and Gertie (WV Department Highways), and a host of other family members and friends. Juanita joined John Stewart United Methodist Church at an early age and was a faithful and life-long member.  She sang in the choir (did solos or duets on Easter Sundays—His Eye Is On the Sparrow). She had a beautiful soprano voice and sang at many weddings, funerals, and other venues.  Juanita and her sisters, Mable and Dorothy, were well-known as the Smalls Sisters in the Bluefield area.  They sang together at various events, including the annual Policeman’s Ball.  She also served as a member of the Worship Committee, generated the monthly church’s financial reports, and was responsible for preparing and printing the weekly church bulletins.   Juanita graduated Valedictorian from Genoa High School at the age of 16.  She was honored at the high school’s last all-school reunion in 2018.  Juanita graduated from Bluefield State College (now Bluefield State University) with a B.S. in Education.  While at Bluefield State, she was inducted in the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Beta Pi Chapter. Juanita worked full time for the State of WV for approximately 70 years.  She worked at Bluefield State College in the Business Office (Assistant Business Manager) where she assisted students with finding housing after the dormitories closed.  She also assisted students with obtaining financial aid.  She ended her career when she retired from the WV Department of Highways in Princeton at the age of 90!!!  While on this job, she recommended the hiring of students (pseudo cousins) for summer programs.  She donated earned time off to co-workers with serious illnesses who had run out of their own earned time off! A celebration of Juanita’s life will be held on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 12 noon at John Stewart United Methodist Church, 102 Jones Street, Bluefield, WV with Reverend James Reed and Judy Raines, Worship Leader, officiating.  Friends may call one hour prior to the service. Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Bluefield Alumnae Chapter will conduct the Omega Omega service during the visitation hour. Burial will be Monday, August 12, at the Woodlawn Memorial Park, Route 52, Bluewell, WV. The service will be available via Zoom.  The link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/ 6457645677.  You will be asked to Enter meeting password. It is 6457645677 (same number in the link). Special thank you to the Bluefield Rescue Squad, the John Stewart United Methodist Church family, Goodykoontz Drug Store staff and Seaver Funeral Home for their care and concern for Juanita and her family.