Gail Maria Smith-Nyachowe peacefully went home to be with our Heavenly Father on Sunday, July 5, 2026, surrounded by her beloved family, following a courageous battle with cancer. 

Gail was born on April 10, 1958, in Washington, D.C., at Providence Hospital.  She was the middle child of the late Raymond Montague Smith, Sr. and Leola Melvina Smith.  Raised in Washington, DC, she attended St. Gabriel Catholic Elementary School. Gail treasured her childhood years and had fond memories of the fun times growing up on Fourth Street, in Northwest D.C., in Seoul, Korea and summers visiting relatives and friends in Gordonsville, VA.  She graduated from the Academy of the Holy Names High School in Silver Spring, MD in 1976.   Constantly in pursuit of higher education, Gail received a B.S. degree in Nutrition Science from Howard University in 1980. After graduation, Gail moved to New York City, where she briefly pursued a modeling career while working as a top cosmetics salesperson at Bloomingdale’s in Manhattan.  She later worked as a nutritionist at the Brooklyn Hospital Center. 

Gail met a surgeon, Pascal Naychowe, while working at the Brooklyn Hospital Center.  They married at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. in 1992.  After living briefly in Washington, DC and in Ann Arbor, MI for several years, their marriage ended in divorce, without children, in 2000. 

Gail returned to Washington D.C. where she began a long career at Providence Hospital in healthcare administration, including pivotal roles as a grant writer and breast cancer patient navigator. In her spare time, she worked on home renovation projects, researched family ancestry and became a master gardener certified in horticulture through the University of the District of Columbia. Her gentle spirit and compassionate heart fueled her energy to care for and empathize with others in the workplace and in her personal life.  Gail was an amazing supportive sister who could make us laugh until we cried.  She enjoyed being the middle child and would give us “love” slaps all the time. She put the “A” in Auntie and spent quality time with her nieces and nephews sharing life lessons and skills.  She taught them sewing, crafting, shopping, skating, biking with lots of giggles and attended many academic and sporting activities.  Gail’s love is true and kind, and she will forever be missed.

Gail made many cherished memories with her surviving family, including her loving sister, Denise Marcelle Smith-Graye; her supportive brother, Raymond Montague Smith, Jr.; bother in-law, Eric Stephen Graye; niece, Lauren Kendall Graye; nephew, Jordan Cameron Graye; an adoring grandniece, Zora Barrett; two cherished grandnephews, Graye Barrett and Jonah Barrett; and a host of other caring family members and dear friends.