She grew up in Thomasville, Georgia, a small town near the Florida line. She says her first experience in “real” writing was entering contests sponsored by the UDC (United Daughters of the Confederacy) to insure that school children learn about Confederate heroes.
Lenora started music lessons in second grade, about the time she wrote her first poem. Piano became her first love. In high school she was competing and placing in state competitions for classical pianists.. She became a performer for civic and church audiences. But stage fright was a real demon. As a result, she decided not to pursue a career in music. Religious studies and writing became her major interests at this time.
She earned a BA in English from Mercer University in Macon Georgia. One day while in a class taught by Professor W.T. Smalley, a Robert Browning expert, she met his son Kent, who as a science major was taking his father’s class on a whim. It must have been fate. In the fall after graduation, they were married.
They lived eleven years in Columbus, Ohio, parenting three sons and a daughter. Then the family came to California, following the Space Industry. Lenora received a Teaching Credential through Cal Lutheran University and started a career in the Simi Valley Unified School District. She was a teacher of Intermediate grades for twenty five years, emphasizing English and writing to fifth and sixth graders. When her husband retired from Litton Industries, with the children grown and living in other states, it seemed a good time for her to retire also. Still after retirement, she received a grant to teach music in grades K-6 for two additional years.
Singing in the 100 voice Amen Choir at Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch, California, Lenora participates in the annual professional productions at Christmas and other special occasions. For the past eleven years she has been in the phenomenal Passion Play production which runs the two weeks before Easter.
Lenora's Poetry exhibited at the Shepherd of the Hills Church
in Porter Ranch. |
The picture of Lenora Smalley in costume for The Passion Play at Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch,Ca., was painted by the noted artist Murry Whiteman.
Pictured left, Lenora and CWC State President Barb Truax at the SFV Conference in 2004.
Because of her concerns in education, especially for young women, Lenora is a long time member of the American Association of University Women . She plays bridge every two weeks, belongs to a book group and supports activities that raise money for local scholarships.
Since retirement, she continues her interest in religious studies, received a Masters in Theology and finally earned a Ph D. in Archeology, writing her dissertation on” Controversies Surrounding the Dead Sea Scrolls” .She traveled to Israel with the Biblical and American Archaeology Society and to Italy and Greece. “Our next trip will be Egypt when it is safe to go,” she sighs. But I really want to dig at Vendolanda, a site in Britain at an ancient Roman fort on Hadrian’s Wall. Did I say I have retired? Most writers never retire... Too many things to write about!
Lenora Smalley has been a member of California Writers Club, San Fernando Valley branch for a number of years. She was the Hospitality Chairman for three years, served two years as Secretary to the Board and two years as Vice-President before being elected President of the club in June of 2002. She has written for the Valley Scribe marketing column called Opportunity Knocks.Pictured left, Lenora and CWC State President Barb Truax at the SFV Conference in 2004.