Gayle Smith is a native of Portsmouth, Virginia. She was awarded a Masters of Science from Old Dominion University in Norfolk with her concentration in Midwifery from Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia. Gayle also has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Diploma in Nursing from Portsmouth General School of Professional Nursing.

Prior to becoming a midwife, Gayle worked as a labor and delivery nurse for more than 20 years.

Gayle is a member of the American College of Nurse Midwives.