Shannon Mary Smallwood (Giizhiibaawase)

September 4, 1971 ~ August 12, 2023 (age 51)

Shannon Mary Smallwood (Giizhiibaawase) began her journey to the Spirit World on August 11, 2023 at her home in Duluth, Minnesota. Shannon was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 4, 1971 to Belva Neadeau-Smallwood and Larry Smallwood Sr. Shannon grew up in the south side of Minneapolis and later made her home in Duluth, Minnesota. Shannon was well known for her crazy sense of humor and having absolutely no filter. Although she was one to "tell it like it is" everybody knew it was done with good intentions, as she had a heart of gold and the willingness to help in any way she could. Shannon loved her children and her grandchildren more than anything in this world. She was an amazing mother, but an even more amazing grandmother, or as she would say "Glamma grandma fashion-ista Nae-Nae." She loved and cared so much about all of her family and friends all over the states, along with all of her adopted children that she took in over the years. She called them her "hood kids" and they all called her "Mama Nae-Nae." She was everybody's favorite auntie, favorite sister, favorite cousin, etc. Everybody loved and adored her. Shannon was always in love with her fashion, her make-up and getting dolled up. She was well-known as being "extra" all the time and everybody loved it! She loved taking rides up the north shore and jamming out to music. She loved her "fur-babies" Fester, Naadi and Shorty. One of the things she loved to do in her free time was sing karaoke. She had an amazing voice. She loved dancing at pow-wows any chance she could get. She loved traveling and being on the road. What she enjoyed more than anything, though, was being a mother and a grandmother to all her babies.

Shannon will be lovingly remembered by her children - sons Jaron (Ayana) Smallwood, Jovon Smallwood; daughter Shianna (who knows) Smallwood; special daughter Azheni Currie; grandchildren Joseph, Taylor, Jaden, Azaylia, Jaxon, Angel and Kaden; aunts Kelly Lovelace, Nancy Wood, Deb Morrison, Nancy Polonia; sisters Karla Smallwood, Falon Jackson, Nicole (Chris) Waltz, Earline (Toni) May, Charla May, Valerie May, Christan Jordan; brothers Kevin (Sandra) White, Aaron Day, Dean (Angel) Smallwood, Stacy (Nicola) Archambault, Justin (Candace) Smallwood, Dennis Smallwood; uncle Eli Staples; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Welcoming Shannon home in the Spirit World will be her parents Larry "Amik" Smallwood Sr, Belva Iris Neadeau-Smallwood; brother Larry Smallwood Jr; aunts Sally May, Rosetta Jourdain, Margaret Neadeau, Alberta Fairbanks; uncles Brad Roache, Earl Parkhurst, Dan Parkhurst, Peter Parkhurst and John Neadeau, along with many other family members whom she had loved and grieved over the years.

A Wake will begin at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at the New Red Lake Center in Red Lake, Minnesota, and continue until the services at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. Active Pallbearers will be Travis White, Darron Mountain, Sedrick Hindsley, Wallace Saice, Dillon Garcia and Antonio Garcia. Honorary Pallbearers will be all of her "brothas" and "Sistas" from Southside, Hillside and the Motherland, her bub sisters, her hood kids and all of her nieces and nephews. Burial will be at the St Mary's Cemetery in Red Lake, Minnesota.

Arrangements provided by Whispering Pines Funeral & Cremation Service of Walker & Hackensack, Minnesota.

Services

24 Hour Viewing

Tuesday

August 15, 2023

6:00 PM

Red Lake Center

15041 Great Nation Drive

Red Lake, MN 56671

Funeral Service

Wednesday

August 16, 2023

11:00 AM

Red Lake Center

15041 Great Nation Drive

Red Lake, MN 56671