She was the third daughter of ten children born to Mary Jane (Jennie) Cumberworth, a former teacher, and her husband, William Sidney Smith, a printer.

[1] Lovell-Smith joined the family printing business, Smith and Anthony Limited, when she was 17 years old.

On her return to New Zealand, Lovell-Smith joined the YWCA and was appointed general secretary of the Timaru branch in 1932.

In the 1960s, she edited the journal of the New Zealand branch of the Pan-Pacific and South-East Asia Women’s Association.

She also continued her work with the National Council of Women, joining the executive of the Christchurch branch and chairing a number of committees.