Everson, Pennsylvania (August 24, 1948 – February 22, 2020) age 70 yrs’

Barbara Elaine Smith, professionally known as B. Smith, was an American restaurateur, model, author, businesswoman, and television host. Smith began her career in modeling, participating in the Ebony Fashion Fair and later signing with the Wilhelmina Models agency. Smith was the first African American model to be featured on the cover of Mademoiselle magazine in 1976. Smith owned multiple restaurants called B. Smith. Her interest in décor and restaurant design led her to develop her first home collection. It debuted at Bed, Bath & Beyond in Spring 2001. In spring 2010, Smith debuted her first furniture collection with the La-Z-Boy company Clayton Marcus. Smith authored three books concentrating on recipes and presentations. Smith and her husband released Before I Forget in early 2016. It details their journey after her diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s. The book was written with husband Dan Gasby and Vanity Fair contributing editor Michael Shnayerson. Smith died of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease at age 70.