During the 1964 Republican presidential primaries Smith served as an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention. She served on the Alabama Republican State Executive Committee in 1966. During the 1972 Republican presidential primaries she served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention, vice-chair of the Alabama delegation to the Republican National Convention, and as one of two Republican at-large presidential electors alongside state Representative Doug Hale. Smith later served as chair of the Republican Party in the 4th Ward in Mobile, Alabama.