JoAnn Walker Smith was born on March 4, 1949, in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, to Joseph Walker and Eula Smith Walker. She passed away peacefully at her home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, surrounded by family and friends on Thursday, July 13, 2023. She was 74 at the time of her passing. JoAnn is survived by her husband George A. Smith of Fort Lauderdale, daughters Stephanie Fenton and Tina Smith, sister Dee Cooley, niece Jennifer Cooley, and great nephew Ryker Wingler. She was preceded in death by her grandparents and parents, as well as George’s daughter Lynn Smith. JoAnn Smith’s 48-year “commitment to volunteerism” began while working at Mondessa Fashions. While at Mondessa, JoAnn supported charity tournaments that benefitted cerebral palsy and the Adam Walsh Resource Center.
According to a proclamation issued by the Fort Lauderdale City Commission, JoAnn Smith is “deeply ingrained in the betterment of her neighborhood.” Specifically, her efforts on behalf of South Middle River, along with those of her neighbors, led to the development of South Middle River Park and the neighborhood’s master plan. In addition, JoAnn was a long time member of the Citizens Volunteer Corp; Citizens on Patrol; Parks, Recreation, and Beaches Board; St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee; Glam-A-Thon coordinator; president of the Fort Lauderdale Woman’s Club; and for 10 years, served on the Vestry of the Episcopal Church of the Intercession, where she helped “dig in” an extremely productive neighborhood garden (JoAnn was both a Master Gardener and Master Naturalist) and ran the local church food bank. In 2018, because of her extraordinary efforts on behalf of the City of Fort Lauderdale and exemplifying the “power to make a difference”, the City Commission honored and named JoAnn as “Citizen of the Year naming a day in her honor.
More recently, in April of 2023, the city installed a plaque identifying and naming the botanical gardens in Stranahan Park as “The JoAnn Smith Botanical Garden”.
JoAnn was a treasured team and staff member of Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale, overseeing park events and inspections. She was often called upon to help plan major events, coordinate volunteers, assuring a safe, well attended, and enjoyable event.