John Heggie Small

John Heggie Small, age 79, passed away peacefully February 25, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia, after a brief, but fierce, battle with cancer.

John was born September 4, 1946, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Ernest William Small and Ellen Stephen Small. He had the peripatetic early life of a military child, growing up in, Minnesota, Montana, Washington, Missouri, Colorado, California, Maryland, New York, and Virginia, including 3 different Catholic High Schools, where he maintained close relationships over a lifetime.

John received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University (1968). He served two years on active duty with the United States Army during the Vietnam War (1968-70). In fulfillment of his lifelong dream to be a lawyer (inspired by winning an Optimist speech contest in middle school), John earned a J.D. front the University of Virginia School of Law (1973) and was a law clerk to the Delaware Court of Chancery (1974).

John retired in 2015, alter 41 years with Prickett, Jones & Elliott, P.A. in Wilmington, Delaware. His practice focused on the Delaware law of corporations and alternative business entities. An expert in Business Law, John chaired several committees of the American Bar Association. He was a primary drafter of several of Delaware's statutes. John is remembered by his colleagues for his lifetime of service, exceptionalism, humility, composure, and brilliance.

John embraced life with boundless curiosity, passion, and generosity. He travelled widely, including all 50 States. most of Europe, and Oceania. He loved, and enjoyed sharing, travel, fine art, glass blowing, baseball, golf, and cuisine with his wife, his siblings, nieces and nephews, and his wide cadre of close friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents. John is survived by his loving wife of 28 years Gayle F. Small of McLean, Virginia, his siblings Sara S. House (George), Janie S. Dowdy (Dennis), and Stephen W. Small (Carol). He and Gayle played a generous, loving, and supportive part in the lives of' his nieces and nephews: Michael Dowdy (Shelley Welton), Mihan Taylor (Oliver), Ryan Dowdy (Rachel Crump), Ellen House (Drew McKown), and was especially close to John and Emma Small. His caring extended to the children of nieces and nephews: Alice, Arlo, Baker, Georgia, James, Rohan, and Theo. He will be remembered lovingly by all.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made in John's memory to Stand Up To Cancer (https://fundraise.standuptocancer.org) or Feeding America (https://give.feedingamerica.org).

A celebration of life will follow at a later date.