Joan Ann Smallwood Lyles

Mrs. Joan Ann Smallwood Lyles, 80, went peacefully to be with the Lord on Friday,
January 17, 2020, at Genesis Ballenger Creek Nursing Home surrounded by her family.
Born, March 16, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Kermit W. Smallwood and Anna
Mae Whiting-Smallwood Ferguson, and the widow of the late Paul M. Lyles, Sr.

A 1957 graduate of Lincoln High School, she was nicknamed "Stonewall Jackson" as
captain of the women's varsity basketball team and along with academics earned her a
scholarship offer to Freedman's School of Nursing, which is currently Howard University.

Taking another path, Joan was one of the first African American ward clerks for Frederick
Memorial Hospital (FMH) before moving on to become a L.P.N. working for both Springfield
State Hospital and FMH. In 1966, she earned her degree as a stay-at-home Mom which
she did for several years before returning to work as a teacher in the Frederick County
Mirror Lab program at East Frederick and Rock Creek Schools. She was Assistant
Manager for High's Dairy stores, all Frederick locations, until they closed, finishing her
work career as Self Service Manager for Service Merchandise until they closed.

A devoted member of Jackson Chapel United Methodist Church, she sang with the
Jackson Chapelettes and later the Faith Gospel Singers for many years. She started her
journey as an alto at a young age growing up in Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church as a member
of the Quinnettes.

Joan was a devoted Baltimore Orioles and Washington Redskin fan, and could boast
that she and hubby Paul met and received an autographed ball from the team when Cal
Sr., Billy, and Cal Jr. were all on the team playing at Memorial Stadium. She also enjoyed
Bingo and Bible study with devoted friend, Betty "Boop" Goines.

Leaving to cherish her memory are her: children, Carlyle Seabolt (James) and Philip
Lyles (Emily) of Frederick, Pauletta Lyles of Hagerstown, and Paul Lyles, Jr. (Suzanne)
of Mandan, ND; brother, John W. Disney, Frederick; 5 grandchildren, Joshua, Shannon,
Anna, and Samuel Lyles, and Haley Glasco; 4 great grandchildren, Tyrell, Malayiah,
Archer and Zackery; 2 godchildren, Paula Smallwood-Bowie and Raymond Smallwood,
Jr.; aunt, Emma Clairese Henderson of Burkettsville; devoted nieces and nephews, Anna
Laurencine Thomas, and Tanya and Anthony Plummer of Frederick and Gertrude and
Richard Pitts of Vineland, NJ; brother-in-law, Lester Lyles of Gaithersburg; 3 sisters-inlaw, Emmeta Smallwood, Frederick, Martha Miranda-Smallwood, Sabana Seca, Puerto
Rico, and Verda Lyles, Atlanta, GA; devoted cousin, Kudline Whiting-Miller, Lewes, DE;
friend, Lola Williams; friend and roommate, Judith Nathan; former classmate and
basketball teammate, Patsy Snowden; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and
friends. Besides her parents, siblings and husband, she was predeceased by her daughter,
Pamela Marie Lyles, and siblings, Virginia Smallwood-Thomas, Kermit Smallwood Jr.,
Elmer Henson Smallwood, Sr., and Raymond Smallwood, Sr.