The beautiful, wonderful, adventurous, sometimes stubborn, and sassy Brenda Bell-Smith passed away on October 21, 2024 in Hiram, Georgia. She was affectionately known to her immediate family as Fuzzy, TMZ, Missy Miss, Angry Bird, and St. James. She was an incredible nurse, boss, mom, spouse, aunt, sister, friend, cook, family news reporter, and much more. She has positively touched the lives of so many people. She may never have known the impact that she had, but she never lived her life or worked for affirmation. She will greatly be missed by her family, friends, colleagues, and patients.

She fought metastasized pancreatic cancer for almost 7 years. She, overall, beat the odds for pancreatic cancer patients. She tried to always have a smile and stay positive during her toughest times. Due to her passion for medicine and to serve others, she participated in trials to help cancer patients with the Moffitt Cancer Research Center and her local oncology team. Brenda’s tenacity, journey, and desire to continue making a positive impact led her to being selected for a Tampa News pancreatic cancer spotlight in 2023 in partnership with the Moffitt Cancer Research Center. She shared her unique perspective as a black Caribbean woman on a multi-year cancer journey and provided guidance for actions providers can take to better support patients.

In addition to this, she participated in cancer walks and fundraisers when she could. Before she became diagnosed with cancer, she advocated for all nurses to be specialized in oncology to provide better care for cancer patients. She began her career as a CNA. She later became a Registered Nurse, Nursing Supervisor, then a Director of the ICU & Telemetry unit at Palms West Hospital. She left her career nearly a year after her diagnosis.

She leaves behind her husband Kenneth Smith, daughter Satoria Smith, daughter Natecia Smith, 5 brothers, 4 sisters, a niece and nephew Jovanna Bell-Parkhouse and Rahshawn Martin who recognized her as their 2nd mother, and numerous nieces & nephews who she affectionately adored. She has now been reunited with her parents and grandparents in the afterlife.

Brenda Bell-Smith was born in the land of wood and water (Jamaica) in the Duncans-Trewlaney to parents Armaleta Algara Scarlett and Egbert Louis Bell on May 10, 1963. She spent her early years in Jamaica and the Bahamas. After moving to Florida, she obtained a Practical Nursing degree from Northwest Vocational and Technical Center, Associates of Science in Nursing from Broward Community College, Bachelors of Science in Healthcare Administration from Barry University, and Masters in Nursing & Informatics from the University of Phoenix. She was a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society. In addition, she was recognized and honored as one of the few female nurses of color and of an immigrant background to hold a leadership position at HCA East Division. She continued to train and learn everything possible about medicine and healthcare. She believed firmly in the Hippocratic Oath and the teachings of Florence Nightingale. She was an inspiration not only to her family, but to many nurses, doctors, and medical staff. To speak about all of her achievements would require a book. They can not be noted in an obituary. She was truly a phenomenal woman and a force to reckon with.

Please come to honor her on November 16, 2024 at Connect Church Royal Palm Beach located at 10701 Okeechobee Blvd, Royal Palm Beach, FL,33411. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:00pm-2:30pm. 

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