Nancy Pinkney Yates-Smith was born December 4, 1932, in Silverstreet, South Carolina, the last child of twelve children born to the late John and Luella Pinkney. She passed from this life on February 14, 2024, at the age of 91.

Like her parents, Nancy's greatest handhold in life was her strong faith instilled at a young age with which she had to rely upon early after suffering the devastating loss of her mother and then later her father. But her family was there for her, especially her elder sisters Lucinda and Bennie who helped raise and care for her during her middle to high school years. The family together picked up the pieces and helped Nancy forge ahead. And forging ahead to create a pathway for the next generation is part of her enduring legacy.

After moving north with her family to the nation's capital as part of that Great Black Migration of African-Americans seeking better opportunities, she attended George Bell Elementary and Elizabeth G. Randall Junior High Schools in Washington, D.C. Nancy was inspired to become a nurse because of her mother's untimely death from diabetes. She went on to graduate from Margaret Murray Washington Vocational High School in 1950 and upon graduation became a practical nurse. She would later meet her spouse William Nelson Yates through her sister Ethel and the couple was married in 1960.

Then came the blessing of motherhood for Nancy when she and William welcomed two twin girls, Sharon and Sheryl. Nancy became a full-time mom at home readily sacrificing career for many years to help ensure her daughters had the best beginning and upbringing.

She would later resume her career and professional development becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). But Nancy wanted to achieve something else that would also be a first in her family, she became a college graduate after earning a degree from the University of the District of Columbia where she also pledged to Chi Eta Phi nursing sorority. Her lifelong commitment to education would also serve as an inspiration and a love for advanced education by her children and grandchildren.

Nancy completed and passed the National State Board of Nurses and became a Registered Nurse (RN) in 1987 and served on the staffs of several hospitals and care facilities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area including Providence, Saint Elizabeth, D.C. General, and the Soldiers Home. She continued advancing her training and education and gained such mastery as to become a much sought-after private-duty RN. All the while at home, her girls in high school by then were at the kitchen table doing their homework while Nancy was also studying her professional and academic courses.

The devoted medical professional, mom, and supporter of her local community at Friendship Baptist Church was blessed as a grandmother when her first grandchild Kristin was born. Then came a second granddaughter April, both girls Nancy helped raise, all while working a full-time job. A few years later, Nancy was blessed with three more grandchildren James Jr., Julia, and Quentin, Jr.

In 1990, she suffered the loss of her husband William after thirty years of marriage, but her faith once again would sustain her. Soon after the loss of William, Nancy retired to be a full-time devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She later was blessed a second time to find holy matrimony with James Smith and their loving union would ensue until his passing in 2004.

Nancy was a long-time supporter of Friendship Baptist Church, Washington, D.C., and received special recognition for her service and devotion from the Church's Pastor Rev. Dr. J. Michael Little; the honor was presented on July 15, 2023, at a special family celebration honoring Nancy and her fellow awardees recognized for their sustained faithful commitment, leadership, and service to family and community. That July 2023 weekend, Nancy was blessed to travel to Trenton, New Jersey with her Washington, D.C. family to join her nieces, nephew, cousins, and many more relatives across generations and from around the nation gathering to honor her and other elders, with Nancy being the eldest family member present. During the occasion, she also received honors and awards from her alma mater, the University of the District of Columbia, and the Honorable Mayor Muriel Bowser of the District of Columbia for a lifetime of achievements and service; the special celebration was a wonderful family gathering and blessing for all and it would be her final visit with extended family. In October 2023, a final honor was bestowed upon her when she was inducted into the Spearman Families National Conference Advisory Council as an honorary member.

Nancy is predeceased by her first husband William; second husband James; her parents John and Luella, and siblings Lucinda, Maryam, John, Daniel, Bennie, Emanuel, William, Colie, Alfred, Ethel, and Rosa.

She leaves to cherish her memory daughters Sharon Kwedi (James, Sr.) and Sheryl Evans (Quentin, Sr.); grandchildren April Gilliam, James Kwedi, Jr., Julia Kwedi, Kristin Burke (Furquan), and Quentin Evans, Jr.; and great-grandchildren Nicholas Gilliam, Nicole Gilliam, and Eliana Burke; a special nonagenarian niece, childhood playmate, life-long "sister," and fellow nurse Alice Yates; nephews William Pinkney, Jr., Stefan Pinkney, Moses Johnson, Michael Murphy, Emanuel Pinkney, Jr., nieces Gayle Pinkney, Cassandra Pinkney, Alfreda Pinkney, Patsy Pinkney, Dr. Cynthia Howell, Elder Pastor Doris Robinson, and Sahirah Muhammad; and a host of great-nephews and nieces, cousins, and friends.