Pastor Emeritus Juanita M. Smalley served as the Assistant Pastor of Macedonia Church of the Living God (CLG) (renamed to New Macedonia Worship Center in 2024) for 41 years, under the direction of the late Reverend Dr. L. P. Richardson. She served the Church of the Living God in several local and state positions also.
Upon the death of her aunt and our beloved founder, Reverend Dr. L. P. Richardson, on November 26, 1995, Elder Smalley was appointed as Pastor of Macedonia CLG by Bishop Jesse J. White, Sr., President General, Church of the Living God. In April 1996, she was consecrated as a Presiding Elder at the Florida State Assembly, Orlando, FL. She very graciously presided over four churches in the Leesburg district, from 1996-2005.
During her tenure as pastor, Pastor Emeritus Smalley instituted a holistic approach to ministry. She viewed each member as a unique individual, with varying abilities and needs. On a weekly basis, she trained thirteen other ministers.
For three years, Pastor Emeritus Smalley gave great leadership to the building of the new Macedonia facility, which was dedicated on June 8, 2002. Before the dedication of the edifice, Pastor Emeritus Smalley, Elder Dr. Shelia Y. Smalley and the congregation began plans to expand their efforts into a campus that would house a Christian school, family literacy center, gymnasium and wellness center to further enhance education, social and cultural opportunities for men, women and children in Lake and surrounding counties. Since the dedication, she was involved in exploring effective ways to meet the needs of the church membership and the community. Thus, several programs evolved out of this effort.
On June 10, 2006, four years after the Church’s dedication, the “Macedonianites” united to celebrate the liquidation of all financial liability for the brick and mortar of this edifice. A grand Mortgage Burning Celebration was held at the church and well attended by community supporters, other church groups and governmental officials.
Pastor Emeritus Juanita M. Smalley’s services were not limited to Macedonia CLG, because her profile included numerous services to her community. Also, she served as a food service manager for 11 years and a vocational education teacher for 26 years with Lake County Public Schools, from which she retired in June 1995. She held a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, FL, and a Master of Education degree in Vocational Administration from the University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL.
On May 18, 2013, Pastor Emeritus Juanita M. Smalley passed the Mantle of Pastorate to her
daughter, Elder Dr. Shelia Y. Smalley. Until her transition on March 13, 2022, Pastor Emeritus
Smalley allowed God to use her in many capacities in ministry at Macedonia.
