[3] She is also the recipient of the 2011 Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement for her body of work as a significant and lasting literary contribution.

Smith originally wanted to be a Latin instructor, but eventually studied English and history at Hunter College, and received her B.A.

In 1975, she completed her doctorate degree in curriculum and supervision at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.

They returned to New York where Smith worked at the Countee Cullen Branch of the New York Public Library as a children's librarian and storyteller under the mentorship of librarian Augusta Braxton Baker, telling stories at locations such as the Hans Christian Andersen Statue in Central Park.

[9] In Florida Smith worked as a school librarian and consultant for Broward County, where she built the children's book collection for the Pompano Beach Branch Library.

After earning the doctorate she taught at Florida Atlantic University as an instructor in the College of Education.

[18] In 2006, at age 84, Smith traveled with a medical team down the Amazon River telling stories to children in the small villages of Enseada, Itapiranga and Nova Esperança.

[19] In 2014 REFORMA,The National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking and ALSC honored Dr. Smith at the 20th anniversary of the Pura Belpré Award.

Dr. Smith was a founding member and first president of the South Palm Beach County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta in 1984.