Joan Smedley

Joan Francis Smedley was born to the late Earnest and Jeanne Howard on April 2, 1946. She departed this life on January 30, 2014 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Joan graduated from Woodward High School and attended the University of Cincinnati where she received a Bachelors Degree in Education. While attending UC, she pledged and became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She went on to become one of Cincinnati’s top professional black models. Her accomplishments in modeling included printwork for magazines and newspapers, runway for top designers, tv shows and commercials.
She was married to the late John Smedley. This union was blessed with two daughters, Lisa and Lori. During her later years, she relocated to California with her two daughters where she pursued a career in marketing and became CEO of a marketing and sales firm.
She loved being “Mam’ma” to her four grandchildren, Christina, Jonathan, Devin and Donny. She will be remembered for her natural beauty and natural humor that made everyone feel happy. Her constant kindness and giving was displayed in how she treated her family and friends. Her strong faith in the Lord helped her to see a blessing in all life’s difficulties.
Joan was preceded in death by her brother, Phillip Howard. She leaves to mourn her passing, but to cherish her memory: daughters, Lisa and Lori; twin sister, Joyce; twin brothers, Michael and Eugene; fiancé, Marvin Harper; and a host of other close relatives and friends.