Dr. Janell Green Smith, a 31-year-old certified nurse-midwife and passionate advocate for Black maternal health, died on New Year’s Day 2026 following childbirth complications, casting a stark light on the persistent racial disparities in maternal care in the United States. Her death has sparked renewed outrage and dialogue about the systemic failures that disproportionately endanger Black mothers, even those with medical expertise.
Janell Green Smith dedicated her career to improving outcomes for Black women, having attended over 300 births in South Carolina with a focus on safe and respectful care. She became a midwife after being alarmed by statistics showing Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, aiming to be part of the solution. Her work was widely respected, and she was known for her kindness, tenacity, and ability to connect with patients, earning praise from colleagues and the community.
In the summer of 2025, Green Smith announced her pregnancy, bringing joy to her family as she prepared to welcome her first child with husband Daiquan Smith. However, on Christmas Eve 2025, she was admitted to Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital after developing severe preeclampsia, a dangerous blood pressure condition. To manage the risks, doctors performed an emergency cesarean section on December 26, delivering baby Eden eight weeks premature but in stable condition.
Initially, Green Smith seemed to recover, but on December 29, she experienced a rupture at her incision site, leading to significant bleeding. She was rushed into emergency surgery, which appeared successful, but complications arose during recovery. On January 1, 2026, she went into cardiac arrest and passed away, leaving her newborn daughter and grieving family behind. The exact cause of death remains under investigation, but the sequence of events highlights the vulnerabilities faced by Black mothers.
The news of Green Smith’s death has sent shockwaves through her community and beyond, with vigils held in Greenville and Charleston, South Carolina, where mourners released pink balloons in her memory. Her sister, Selina Green, expressed that ‘her worst fear has come to pass,’ emphasizing the cruel irony that a midwife who fought for safer births succumbed to the very issues she worked to address. Her husband, Daiquan Smith, described the loss as ‘unimaginable,’ balancing grief with the care of their infant daughter.
This tragedy underscores a national crisis: Black women in the U.S. face maternal mortality rates significantly higher than other racial groups, with recent CDC data showing 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births for Black women compared to 14.5 for white women. Experts attribute this disparity to systemic racism, implicit bias in healthcare, and care disparities, noting that over 80% of maternal deaths are preventable. South Carolina, where Green Smith lived and worked, ranks among the top states for maternal mortality.
In response, organizations like the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the National Black Nurses Association have issued statements condemning the ongoing inequities. They pointed out that Green Smith’s knowledge and credentials did not protect her, calling for accountability and systemic change to address the root causes of these deaths. Her death follows other high-profile cases of Black mothers being dismissed in hospitals, amplifying calls for reform.
Green Smith’s legacy lives on through her advocacy and her daughter, Eden, who remains in the neonatal intensive care unit but is described as a ‘feisty little fighter’ with her mother’s spirit. Her family hopes that her story will galvanize efforts to improve maternal health care and prevent future tragedies. As the conversation around Black maternal health is reignited, Green Smith’s life and death serve as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for change in a system that continues to fail too many.
