Barbara M. Smith

At the age of 89, Barbara Mercer Smith of Temple Hills, MD, gracefully and peacefully entered eternal rest on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025. Born on September 18, 1936, in Washington, DC, to Daniel and Nellie Catherine Mercer, Barbara’s life reflected a virtuous woman whose worth was far above rubies (Proverbs 31:10). Barbara lived with purpose, faith, and deep devotion to her family that was felt in both the large moments and the smallest details.

Barbara was a woman of academic and professional excellence. Graduating with high honors from Spingarn High School in Washington, DC, Barbara reigned as the school’s first Homecoming Queen before matriculating to Maryland State College (currently University of Maryland Eastern Shore), where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Special Education and Business Education. At Maryland State, Barbara pledged as a sorority sister of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Chapter and reigned as Maryland State’s Homecoming Queen in 1956 in her junior year, and was crowned by actress/singer, Ethel Waters. Barbara went on to earn a master’s degree and was awarded a fellowship at George Washington University, graduating Cum Laude before accepting a position at Anacostia High School in Washington, DC where she taught Business for 28 years. Barbara took a holistic approach to educating students that went beyond the classroom. She unlocked formative minds with creative teaching techniques that included music, rhymes, and various pedagogies. Year after year, Barbara received outstanding performance reviews. Her students consistently excelled with high assessment scores. Consequently, Barbara was promoted to developing a business model and implementing Anacostia’s first student-run bank, which later became a model for all other high schools in DC. Thirty years after she retired from the D.C. Public Schools System, it was not unusual for many of Barbara’s former students to recognize her in restaurants, malls, or grocery stores to thank her for the wisdom that she imparted.

Barbara was a woman of commitment. While a cheerleader in high school, Barbara met and fell in love with the high school basketball star, Francis W. Smith. They eventually married and built a legacy founded on loyalty and love. They were a powerful couple known in the community for serving their alma mater, Spingarn High School, and for wearing matching-colored outfits. In 1972, Barbara and Francis were baptized as Catholics at Holy Family Catholic Church in Hillcrest Heights, MD, where Barbara served on the Catholic Church Sodality, Bereavement Committee, and the Renew 2000 Organization. Additionally, Barbara was a member of the University of District of Columbia Alumni Association, Spingarn Alumni Association, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society in Education, National Business Education Association, Women’s International Bowling Conference, American Bowling Congress, and was the Gold and Silver Medal Recipient (Bowling) in the Maryland Senior Olympics statewide and throughout the country. Barbara and Francis shared a life of commitment, both retiring on the same day to enjoy vacations locally and abroad while staying active in golf and bowling. Their 61-year marriage stood as a gentle testimony of friendship, partnership, and devotion until Francis preceded Barbara in death in 2019.

Barbara’s greatest love was the family that she and Francis created when they welcomed two daughters, Robynne, energetic and carefree, and Tracie, more reserved and quieter. Barbara’s daughters were her life! Although there was a two-year age difference with the girls, it was not usual for Barbara to dress Robynne and Tracie in coordinating outfits complete with matching hair ribbons, barrettes, and shoes. Playing board games as a family in front of the fireplace, participating in bowling tournaments as a family, and making home-cooked meals on special holidays were Barbara’s greatest joys in keeping family unity. Although Barbara came from modest beginnings, Barbara was intentional about ensuring her daughters were exposed to opportunities that she did not have as a child. Gymnastics and Ballet Lessons, Guitar and Piano Lessons, and Karate, Sewing, and Swimming Lessons were just a few extracurricular activities that she exposed her daughters to.

Barbara’s kitchen was the heart of her home. She cooked from scratch with care and joy, preparing beautifully arranged holiday meals in the dining room and Christmas brunches that gathered generations in the basement. Those times of food and fellowship nourished not only bodies but hearts, creating moments of laughter, warmth, and lasting memories. (Proverbs 31:15)

Barbara was also a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who loved hard and whose family was her priority. Her family rose up and called her blessed (Proverbs 31:28), especially during cherished seasons spent together. One of her greatest joys was lovingly designing and sewing Christmas wardrobes for her grandchildren – each stitch a labor of love, each garment a memory made by her hands. (Proverbs 31:13)

Barbara managed her household with diligence and grace (Proverbs 31:27), extending her hands to those in need and freely giving to numerous charitable organizations. (Proverbs 31:20) Barbara was clothed in strength and dignity (Proverbs 31:25), fully recovering in 2024 from four hospital stays with bouts of pneumonia, COVID, a blood clot in the lung, and a transient ischemic attack (TIA mini stroke). Such strength enabled Barbara to travel to Florida in July 2025 with her family without the use of a walking cane or portable oxygen and dance with her family in the kitchen on Thanksgiving Day 2025 to a famous line dance, “Boots on the Ground.”

Barbara’s words were always marked with wisdom and kindness. (Proverbs 31:26) Above all, Barbara was a woman who loved the Lord, and her faith was the foundation of her life. (Proverbs 31:30) Her works and life now speak for her. (Proverbs 31:31) The traditions she created, the love she poured out, and the example she set of love, grace, and elegance will live on through every generation she touched. Though we mourn Barbara’s absence, we celebrate the life of a virtuous woman who was full of love, service, and faith to her family and those she encountered for nearly nine decades.

Barbara is preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Francis Smith; sister, Trina Law; Brothers-in-law, Edgar and Benjamin Smith; and Sisters-in-law, Madeline and Mercedes Smith. Barbara is survived by her loving daughters, Robynne Carter (deceased Rozier Carter); Tracie Thomas Linn (Charles); Grandchildren: Brittani Crutchfield (Raheem); Francis Hawkins; and Isaiah Thomas; Great-Grandchildren: Tre’yon Carter, and Milani and Kali Crutchfield; Brother-in-law, Julius Smith; Sister, Joye Mercer-Branson; Goddaughter, Karen LeCounte; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins; and dear family friend, Neda Graves.

A Visitation will be held at Robert E. Evans Funeral Home from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm. Located at 16000 Annapolis Rd

Bowie, Maryland 20715. A Celebration of Life will follow Saturday,January 17, 2026, at 12:00 pm. Dignity Memorial, Robert Evans Funeral Home 16000 Annapolis Road Bowie, MD 20715, will gladly receive cards and any memorials c/o Tracie Linn and Robynne Carter on behalf of their mother, Barbara M. Smith.Saturday,January 17, 2026

Proverbs 31(verses 10-31): Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.(10) She seeks wood and flax and willingly works with her hands and makes linen garments.(13, 24) She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household.(15) She extends her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.(20) Strength and honor are her clothing.(25) She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.(26) She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.(27) Her children rise up and call her blessed.(28) Charm is deceitful, and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.(30). Let her own works praise her in the gates.(31)