Barbara Jean Smith was born on July 14, 1949 in Jacksonville, FL, to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ardell and Essie Johnson Smith. Reared in a loving home, she was baptized into the Christian faith in St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church at a young age.

Barbara attended the local public schools of Jacksonville. In junior high she was crowned Miss James Weldon Johnson. Later, she sang with the New Stanton Senior High School Chorus and was crowned Miss New Stanton 1967 in her senior year. Upon graduation, she continued her education at Bethune-Cookman University where she was a member of the college choir. Barbara graduated from Edward Waters College in 1972 with a B.S. in Social Science. Her extensive employment career as a social worker included Florida’s Children and Family Services and the Department on Aging in East St. Louis, MO.

As a communicant of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, she sang with the Senior Choir, attended the W.D. Sweet Church School Class, and was a member of Class #47, Sister Bobbie Lesene, Leader. Sister Barbara Jean Smith Preston finished her course on Saturday, September 3, 2016. She fought a good fight and kept the faith, and as Paul said to Timothy, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ardell and Essie Smith.Precious memories will be shared by her son, Emory A. Preston; grandchildren, Alexia Johnson, Destiny Chambliss, Arreallious Preston, Julian-Michael Preston, Alexus Crosby, Amerie Brown and Emory Preston, Jr.; sister, Janet Smith Goins; aunts, Myrtle Culmer, Nassau, Bahamas, and Ella Turnquist, Eleutra, Bahamas; uncle, Harvey Johnson, Sr. (Julia), Jacksonville, FL; nieces, Kanese Goins, Victoria Goins and Tyonnie Goins; nephew, Torrance Goins; special friends, Michael Mason, Albert Abner, Fredricka Bradley, Cynthia Ross and Rozalyne Wright Wiggerton; and a host of cousins, other relatives and friends.