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Heather-Dawn Small

Credit: Tor Tjeransen/Adventist Media Exchange [CC BY 4.0].

Small, Heather-Dawn Kamille Ernie (1957–2024)

By Elaine Oliver

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Elaine Oliver, Ph.D., LCPC, CFLE, is Associate Director of Family Ministries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters. A licensed clinical counselor and family life educator, she is passionate about strengthening marriages and families worldwide. Elaine is a wife of 40 years, mother of two adult children, and grandmother to two grandsons.

First Published: March 25, 2025

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Heather-Dawn Kamille Ernie Small (née Barker) was a distinguished international leader, passionate women’s advocate, and visionary servant of God. She served with distinction for nearly three decades, beginning her ministry in the Caribbean in 19951 and later serving the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church until her untimely death on January 2, 2024. Her leadership was marked by creativity, high standards, and servant leadership.

Early Life, Family Life, and Education

Born on September 29, 1957, in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Heather-Dawn was the youngest of three children born to Keston Ernest Barker Sr. and Agather Eileen Barker. From an early age, Heather-Dawn displayed a maturity beyond her years. Growing up in Trinidad, she attended the prestigious Bishop Anstey High School, where she excelled academically and socially, often engaging confidently with peers older than herself. At just 11 years old, she was baptized, committing her life to Jesus Christ—an unwavering devotion that would define her life journey.2

On July 29, 1979, Heather-Dawn married the love of her life, Joseph Leyland Alexander Small. Their union was blessed with three children: Joseph Jr. (affectionately known as Joey), who passed away at the age of four, Dalonne, and Jerard. A devoted wife and mother, Heather-Dawn balanced her responsibilities at home with her global ministry work, often supported by her family in both personal and professional spheres.3

Heather-Dawn commenced her higher education at Caribbean Union College (now the University of the Southern Caribbean) before transferring to Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English. Committed to lifelong learning and effective ministry, she went on to complete a Master of Arts in Leadership, with a minor in Pastoral Care to Women, at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon, subsequently pursuing a Doctorate in Inter-Cultural Studies at the same institution.4 At the time of her passing, Heather-Dawn was in the final stages of her dissertation; in recognition of her academic dedication and impactful work, her doctoral degree was awarded posthumously.

Entry to Ministry

In September 1995, Heather-Dawn served as administrative assistant to the president of Caribbean Union College.5 In this role, she interacted regularly with church leaders who quickly recognized her God-given leadership abilities and her sincere love for people. Just one year later, in October 1996, she was called to serve as Children’s and Women’s Ministries director for the Caribbean Union Conference in Trinidad and Tobago—a significant step that marked the beginning of her formal leadership in the church.6

Global Ministry Leadership

In 2001, Heather-Dawn Small was invited by Ardis Stenbakken, then director of Women’s Ministries for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (GC), to serve as Women’s Ministries associate director. Her appointment was officially voted on during the General Conference Spring Meeting on April 19, 2001.7 She assumed the role of acting director on October 12, 2004, and was formally elected as director of Women’s Ministries for the World Church at the General Conference Session held in St. Louis, Missouri, in June 2005.8 Heather-Dawn served in this capacity with distinction for over three quinquenniums until her passing, having been elected in 20109, 201510, and again in 202211. Her remarkable tenure culminated in 23 years of dedicated service at the Seventh-day Adventist World Headquarters.

Heather-Dawn had a remarkable ability to galvanize her team of world leaders around a shared vision, driving strategic planning, program development, and global outreach efforts that touched the lives of millions of women in over 200 countries and territories.12 Under her visionary leadership, Women’s Ministries expanded on its existing legacy and flourished. She passionately advanced the mission of Women’s Ministries—to nurture, empower, and engage women in meaningful outreach.13 In 2009, Heather-Dawn led a groundbreaking partnership between Women’s Ministries and ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) to launch Enditnow®, a global initiative dedicated to ending all forms of violence and abuse, with a special focus on protecting women and children.14

Recognizing the importance of mental well-being, she spearheaded initiatives that raised awareness around mental health, culminating in developing the Women’s Mental Health Training Manual15. Women’s Ministries presented Thinking Well, Living Well for the first time during the WM Mental Health Track at the Global Health Congress in Geneva from July 8-12, 2014. This series of ten seminars on mental health aimed to help Christians discuss the topic openly and with compassion.16

Heather-Dawn also emphasized education and leadership development, launching the Women’s Ministries Leadership Certification program17 and supporting women’s scholarship funding18 through annual devotional book royalties19. Her global travels took her to many countries where she spoke, taught, and inspired women to grow spiritually and emotionally and to serve faithfully with confidence.20 She felt a burden to help women understand who they were in Christ, and wrote,

There are many challenges I face as Women’s Ministries director for the women of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. One major challenge is helping women realize their worth and purpose in Jesus Christ. So many women I meet feel worthless because of life’s challenges and trials. Helping these women realize that in God’s eyes they are valuable and that He has a purpose and calling for their lives is an important part of my ministry.21

Legacy

Heather-Dawn’s creative talents also enriched her personal ministry. She was well-known for her Bible art journaling seminars, which became popular worldwide. Her hobbies included reading, embroidery, scrapbooking, card-making, and stamp collecting, and she brought the same JOY to these pursuits that she shared in her ministry. “Don’t let anyone steal your joy,” she often said—her life’s motto and personal reminder of God’s abiding presence.22

While serving the global Church, Heather-Dawn remained deeply committed to her local congregation at the Metropolitan Seventh-day Adventist Church in Maryland. She became an integral part of the church community, serving faithfully as first elder and helping to co-found Metropolitan Media Ministries. Her visionary leadership played a pivotal role in launching the church’s innovative digital outreach and establishing its pioneering online presence.23

After a short illness, Heather-Dawn was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Despite her physical decline, she continued ministering with grace and courage, comforting and encouraging those around her. She passed away with the same unwavering faith with which she lived—looking forward to the resurrection morning and eternal life with her Savior.

Heather-Dawn Small was a living testament to her favorite word: JOY—Jesus, Others, Yourself. Her legacy was celebrated on February 18, 2024, at the Seventh-day Adventist World Headquarters in Silver Spring, MD, where church leaders from around the world, along with her family and friends, bore witness to her remarkable service and contributions to the Church as a whole and also her impact on the many individuals who benefited from her extraordinary generosity and love.24

General Conference Women’s Ministries honored Heather-Dawn Small by posthumously awarding her the Adventist Woman of the Year award for 2024 at an evening meeting with female members of the General Conference Executive Committee on October 14, 2024. Heather-Dawn’s husband, Pastor Joseph Small, the sole man present, accepted the award on her behalf and expressed his gratitude for hearing the heartfelt tributes from her friends and colleagues.25

Sources

Adventist New Network (ANN). “Remembering Heather-Dawn Small: A Legacy of Faith and Service.” January 3, 2024. https://adventist.news/news/remembering-heather-dawn-small-a-legacy-of-faith-and-service.

“Adventist Woman of the Year Award 2024.” Women’s Ministries, https://women.adventist.org/two-beloved-women-of-gcwm-are-recognized-for-outstanding-leadership.

“Celebrating the Life of Heather-Dawn Small.” Memorial Service Program, Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters, Silver Spring, Maryland, February 18, 2024. Accessed March 25, 2025. https://women.adventist.org/assets/public/galleries/2071/HDS_Memorial_service_program_guide.pdf.

Spring Meeting of the General Conference Executive Committee, meeting minutes of April 19, 2001, page 23. General Conference Archives. Accessed March 25, 2025. https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Minutes/GCC/GCC2001-04SM.pdf.

“Heather-Dawn Small, GCWM Director, Dies January 2, 2024.” Women’s Ministries website. Accessed March 25, 2025. https://women.adventist.org/heather-dawn-small-gcwm-directror-dies-january-2-2024.

Neves, Sam. Interview with Heather-Dawn Small on June 19, 2023. Accessed March 24, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3EIq7qbcXk.

Paseggi, Marcos. “Adventist Women’s Ministries Leader Heather-Dawn Small Dies at 66.” Adventist Review, News, January 3, 2024. https://adventistreview.org/news/adventist-womens-ministries-leader-heather-dawn-small-dies-at-66/.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. https://www.adventistyearbook.org/

The Eighth Business Meeting of the Fifty-eighth General Conference Session, meeting minutes, St. Louis, Missouri, on July 5, 2005, page 2. General Conference Archives. Accessed March 25, 2025. https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Minutes/GCSM/2005/GCSM20050705AM.pdf.

The Eighth Business Meeting of the Fifty-ninth General Conference Session, meeting minutes, Atlanta, Georgia, on June 29, 2010, page 11. General Conference Archives. Accessed March 25, 2025. https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Minutes/GCSM/2010/GCSM20100629AM.pdf.

The Eighth Business Meeting of the Sixtieth General Conference Session, meeting minutes, San Antonio, Texas, on July 6, 2015, page 45, General Conference Archives. Accessed March 25, 2025. https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Minutes/GCSM/2015/GCST20150706PM.pdf.

The Sixth Business Meeting of the Sixty-first General Conference Session, meeting minutes, Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 7, 2022, page 35. General Conference Archives. Accessed March 25, 2025. https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Minutes/GCSM/2022/GCST20220607EVE.pdf.

Notes

  1. Adventist New Network (ANN), “Remembering Heather-Dawn Small: A Legacy of Faith and Service,” January 3, 2024.↩

  2. “Celebrating the Life of Heather-Dawn Small,” Memorial Service Program, Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters, Silver Spring, Maryland, February 18, 2024, accessed March 25, 2025, https://women.adventist.org/assets/public/galleries/2071/HDS_Memorial_service_program_guide.pdf.↩

  3. Ibid., 2.↩

  4. Ibid.↩

  5. Ibid.↩

  6. “Caribbean Union Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1997), 123.↩

  7. Spring Meeting of the General Conference Executive Committee, meeting minutes of April 19, 2001, page 23, General Conference Archives, accessed March 25, 2025, https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Minutes/GCC/GCC2001-04SM.pdf.↩

  8. The Eighth Business Meeting of the Fifty-eighth General Conference Session, meeting minutes, St. Louis, Missouri, on July 5, 2005, page 2, General Conference Archives, accessed March 25, 2025, https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Minutes/GCSM/2005/GCSM20050705AM.pdf.↩

  9. The Eighth Business Meeting of the Fifty-ninth General Conference Session, meeting minutes, Atlanta, Georgia, on June 29, 2010, page 11, General Conference Archives, accessed March 25, 2025, https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Minutes/GCSM/2010/GCSM20100629AM.pdf.↩

  10. The Eighth Business Meeting of the Sixtieth General Conference Session, meeting minutes, San Antonio, Texas, on July 6, 2015, page 45, General Conference Archives, accessed March 25, 2025, https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Minutes/GCSM/2015/GCST20150706PM.pdf.↩

  11. The Sixth Business Meeting of the Sixty-first General Conference Session, meeting minutes, Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 7, 2022, page 35, General Conference Archives, accessed March 25, 2025, https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Minutes/GCSM/2022/GCST20220607EVE.pdf.↩

  12. Marcos Paseggi, “Adventist Women’s Ministries Leader Heather-Dawn Small Dies at 66,” Adventist Review, News, January 3, 2024. See, for example, a report on her visit to Seychelles in 2022: Marla Simeon, “Seventh-Day Adventist Women’s Ministry mission holds fruitful discussion with President Ramkalawan,” Seychelles Nation, August 23, 2022, https://www.nation.sc/articles/14774/seventh-day-adventist-womens-ministry-mission-holds-fruitful-discussion-with-president-ramkalawan.↩

  13. For example, in an interview with Sam Neves on June 19, 2023, she discussed the progress and changes she had observed in women's issues over her 20-year tenure. Her experience and expertise gave her a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities women faced both within the church and in the wider community. This interview is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3EIq7qbcXk. In her plenary speech at the Women in SDA History Conference, on October 12-14, 2023, in Washington, D.C., she highlighted women’s contributions in the church since 1844, including Maud Sisley Boyd, a missionary, and Sarepta Miranda Irish Henry, a temperance activist. She emphasized women’s roles, citing Ellen G. White. The full speech is available on Adventist Digital Learning Community: https://www.adventistlearningcommunity.com/resources/series/411/18651. Also, check out her article on the challenges women face in the church and community, and how pastors can support them in fulfilling their God-given potential in service both within the church and beyond: “Pastor, You Need to Know,” Ministry, May 2017, pages 15-17.↩

  14. See https://www.enditnow.org/.↩

  15. Women’s Ministries Department of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Women’s Mental Health Training: Thinking Well, Living Well, 180 pages, https://women.adventist.org/assets/public/files/Manuals/Thinking%20Well,%20Living%20Well/manual_TWLW_2014_.pdf. The manual and Power Points are available in English, French, Romanian, and Spanish at the Women’s Ministries website: https://women.adventist.org/thinking-well-living-well.↩

  16. “Thinking Well, Living Well: Women’s Mental Health Training Program,” Women’s Ministries, https://women.adventist.org/thinking-well-living-well.↩

  17. See “WM Leadership Certification,” Women’s Ministries, https://women.adventist.org/leadership-certification.↩

  18. “Scholarshipping Our Sisters: Women’s Ministries Scholarship Program,” Women’s Ministries, https://women.adventist.org/scholarship#:~:text=Women's%20Ministries%20Scholarship%20Program,May%2031%20and%20October%2031.↩

  19. See, for example, the 2025 women’s devotional book, Strength for Today, Karen Pearson, editor. See here.↩

  20. See Marcos Paseggi, “Adventist Women’s Ministries Leader Heather-Dawn Small Dies at 66,” Adventist Review, News, January 3, 2024.↩

  21. Adventist New Network (ANN), “Remembering Heather-Dawn Small: A Legacy of Faith and Service,” January 3, 2024.↩

  22. “Celebrating the Life of Heather-Dawn Small,” Memorial Service Program, Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters, Silver Spring, Maryland, February 18, 2024.↩

  23. Ibid.↩

  24. “Heather-Dawn Small, GCWM Director, Dies January 2, 2024,” Women’s Ministries website, accessed March 25, 2025, https://women.adventist.org/heather-dawn-small-gcwm-directror-dies-january-2-2024. The program for the GC celebration of Heather-Dawn Small’s life can be viewed on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/live/fcYdi1HUP1Q.↩

  25. “Adventist Woman of the Year Award 2024,” Women’s Ministries, https://women.adventist.org/two-beloved-women-of-gcwm-are-recognized-for-outstanding-leadership.↩

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Oliver, Elaine. "Small, Heather-Dawn Kamille Ernie (1957–2024)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. March 25, 2025. Accessed October 15, 2026. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=5JQN.

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Oliver, Elaine. "Small, Heather-Dawn Kamille Ernie (1957–2024)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. March 25, 2025. Date of access October 15, 2026, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=5JQN.

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Oliver, Elaine (2025, March 25). Small, Heather-Dawn Kamille Ernie (1957–2024). Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved October 15, 2026, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=5JQN.

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