Alzheimer is Ugly& Tragic, B. Smith succumbs after her Seven Year Battle!

Summary

Barbara Smith, a renowned model, lifestyle guru, and restaurateur, known as B. Smith, passed away at 70 after a seven-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract

B. Smith, a trailblazing figure who was the second black model to grace the cover of Mademoiselle magazine in 1976, died at the age of 70. She was not only a model but also an author, television host, and successful entrepreneur with a line of home products. Smith's accomplishments included writing three cookbooks, founding three restaurants, and hosting a television show for nearly a decade. Despite her successful career, her life took a tragic turn when she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, which led to frequent episodes of wandering and memory loss. Her battle with the disease was documented in a book she co-authored with her husband, advocating for awareness and support within the African American community. Her death highlights the devastating impact of Alzheimer's and the urgent need for a cure.

Opinions

B. Smith was a multifaceted icon, often compared to Martha Stewart, who made significant contributions to the lifestyle and culinary industries.
The author emphasizes the profound loss caused by Alzheimer's, noting that Smith had much more to offer had it

Alzheimer is Ugly& Tragic, B. Smith succumbs after her Seven Year Battle!

Ms. B. Smith was a model and renaissance lady who turned lifestyle guru died at 70 years old. In 1976, she was the second black model to be on the cover of Mademoiselle magazine, after Jolie Jones, in 1969.

Ms. Smith was a native rural Pennsylvania and worked as a babysitter, a governess and a lounge singer till she got her big break in modeling on the cover of Mademoiselle magazine in 1976. Modeling propelled her to France and Italy, where she lived for a time, learned to love food, drink and beautiful things. During the height of her career, she sashayed into the restaurant business. Also, Ms. Smith served as a spokeswoman for Verizon, Colgate, Palmolive Oxy and McCormick’s Lawry seasonings.

Ms. Smith, in addition to being a model, wrote three cookbooks, founded three successful restaurant and launched a nationally syndicated television show, where she hosted the “B. Smith with Style” for nearly a decade, which aired on NBC stations, and founded a magazine. She truly was a renaissance Lady. Ms. Smith ‘s successful home products line was the first from a black woman to be sold at a nationwide retailer, Bed Bath & Beyond in 2001.

All three of her restaurants were called B. Smith. She first opened in 1986, on Eighth Avenue at 47th Street in New York City, and several years later moved around the corner to Restaurant Row on 46th Street; followed by another one in Sag Harbor, Long Island, New York.

Ms. Smith was often referred to as a “black Martha Stewart”. Even though their products couldn't be any more different, she welcomed the comparison.

In the media before Ms. Smith was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer, a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions, there would be word of her many disappearances and having being found. Before she was actually diagnosis, she had suffered from memory problems that affected her daily living and public life.

For example, during a “Today” show interview she froze and this prompted a visit to her doctor. Following this doctor’s visit, shortly thereafter she was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer. After her diagnosis and as the disease progressed, she’d would wander away quite frequently as the newspaper reported her disappearance and being found. In seven years, Alzheimer had ravaged her brain, jumbled her memories, turned her sentences into alphabet soup. Often times, she wouldn’t recognize herself in photos or her husband.

It was reported that B. Smith wandered away so frequently that her husband purchased a home with many gates that prevented her from wandering away. In 2014, when she was on her way to Sag Harbor from the city, she hopped off her bus and somehow ended up back in New York alone. On another wandering occasion, Ms. Smith walked to Harlem and ferried to Staten Island and bused back to Manhattan before finally being recognized in a cafe in Midtown the next day.

Before Alzheimer’s totality on Ms. B. Smith, she and husband were advocates speaking out against Alzheimer in the African American community. Once this dreadful brain disease progressed, their advocacy came to a halt. Her husband continued somewhat as he became a full time caregiver for Ms. Smith.

Ms. Smith and her husband co-authored a book, “Before I Forget: Love, Hope, Help, and Acceptance in Our fight Against Alzheimer’s,” and had partnered with the Brain Health Registry.

In conclusion, once again Alzheimer had claimed another life too soon and with so much to live for. At 70 years old, while she was very accomplished, I just sense their was so much more energy left inside that couldn’t escape the ravaging effects of Alzheimer. No one is immune, so it behooves all to live your best life everyday. I pray someday for a cure to be found or preventive measures in place.

E.P. MCKNIGHT, #1 Amazon Best Seller’s list Author, IS A GRADUATE OF FORDHAM UNIVERSITY LINCOLN CENTER, NY,NY WHERE SHE RECEIVED HER MASTER’S DEGREE IN EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY. SHE IS HONORED TO DEBUT THREE OF HER 10 MINUTE PLAYS AT THE 2012 NAACP THEATRE FESTIVAL.

SHE IS A POET, ACTRESS, ELEMENTARY TEACHER, WRITER, PRODUCER, TALKSHOW HOST, STAGE MANAGER, FITNESS GURU AND A MEMBER SAG/AFTRA AND EQUITY BUT MORE IMPORANTLY A WOMAN OF GOD WHOM SHE CREDITS ALL OF HER TALENTS AND SUCCESS. www.epmcknight.com www.epmcknight.wixsite.com/epfitspiration www.iquestionamerica-fannielouhamer.com