[2] Known for her flamboyant social life and outspokenness, Smith was known widely as "Brown Sugar" or "The Little Black Savage" during her youth.

[3][4] Returning to Barbados, after completion of her schooling, Smith became involved in social work,[3] with the Black Rock Baby Welfare League.

[6] She served as president of the Baby Welfare League, which provided milk and medical care to infants, for fifteen years.

[3] The following year, with Marcella Peebles, Daysh founded the St. Philip Bay League[6] and was the primary benefactor of the Joan Arundell Day Nursery, having built and equipped the facility.

[11] She was a supporter of Caribbean self-determination and as one of the few candidates in the election who were not aligned with the West Indies Federal Labour Party or Democratic Labour Party, her support of Grantley Adams for Prime Minister played a pivotal role in his selection as first head of the federal government.

[12][13] Daysh pushed for the creation of the Barbados Branch of the British Red Cross Society and in 1960, was appointed its first director.