Larry Small

For I am now ready to be offered,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith.
II Timothy 4:6-7
Larry was born on February 2, 1945, to the union of the late Daniel Small, Jr. and the late Alnita Derouen Small. He transitioned this life on April 3, 2025.
Larry was born and raised on Weeks Island, LA. He was the third of twelve children. He was baptized at an early age at St. James Baptist Church. He attended school at Weeks Elementary through the eighth grade. He attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA for several semesters.
In 1967, he decided to enlist in the United States Army where he served four years and was a Vietnam Veteran. He was honorably discharged as a Specialist 1st Class in 1973. After retiring from the military, he was employed by Morton Salt Co. om Weeks Island, LA for a short time. He moved on to be employed by Exxon Mobile Cooperation for twenty years. In 1988, he moved to California and gained employment with Southeast Resource Recovery Facility for twenty-three years. He retired from this company as a Maintenance Supervisor in 2011.
Larry will forever be remembered as having a very humble and positive spirit, wore a contagious smile that could light up a room by his presence.
As an Administrator and Supervisor, he displayed a passion for nurturing his peers and staff to "Never Give Up".
As a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend, he left his "Never Give Up On Life" his legacy with each one of us.
He will be deeply missed but cherished forever.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Alnita Derouen Small; his former wife, Naomi Benjamin Thomas; three brothers, Daniel Small III, Melvin Small, and George Small; two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Collins Small and Marjorie Lewis Small; four nephews, Stanley Joseph Small, Jr., Keith Van Dedrick Small, Toyori Da-Monk and Brandon Allen Small; and two brothers-in-law: Wilbert Perry Antoine, Sr. and Gregory Paul Robertson.
Larry was joined in Matrimony to Phillicie (Phyllis) Hill Small in 2007. He resided in Cerritos, CA until the time of his transition.
He is survived by his devoted wife Phyllis; two daughters, Ingrid Small of Shreveport, LA and Michelle Small of Lafayette, LA; one stepson, Eugene Brown, Jr. of New Iberia, LA; four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, five brothers, Stanley Joseph Small of New Iberia, LA, Ronald Wayne Small (Sheree) of Inglewood, CA, Kendall Wade Small of Gardena, CA, James Edward Small and Keyin Ray Small of Lydia, LA; three sisters, Cynthia Small Antoine of New Iberia, LA, Sylvia Small Mitchell (Rainey) of Inglewood, CA and Susan Small Robertson of New Iberia, LA, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, three godchildren, and close friends.
Finally, Larry always said the happiest moments of his life were when his family were all gathered together. We will carry on with his legacy and will continue to stay strong and united as a family.
The family has two memorial services planned to celebrate the life of Larry Small.
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
10:30 A.M.
Destiny Funeral Home & Crematory
5443 Long Beach Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90845
and
Saturday, May 10, 2025
1:00 P.M.
Visitation: Saturday, May 10, 2025 @ 10:00 A.M.
St. James Baptist Church (Lydia)
4901 Guillot Road
New Iberia, LA 70560
Condolences may be expressed at www.fletcherfuneralhomes.org
Most sacred services are entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Home (337-369-3341) 609 West Admiral Doyle Drive, New Iberia, LA 70560.