Ina Phyllis Pearson Smith was born February 2, 1926, the third daughter to the late Jesse and Mattie Mitchell Pearson. She was preceded in death by two brothers; William Pearson and Andrew Ulyses Pearson, and two sisters; Eva Pearson and Jessie Pearson. She leaves behind three sisters; Beatrice Pearson, Leila Easton, and Dolores Alfreda Daniel, and four brothers; James Pearson, Jesse Pearson, George Pearson, and Stanley Pearson.

Ina was educated in the Camden, New jersey public school system.  She left school after completing the ninth grade to assist with the financial wellbeing of her family. She worked as a domestic with her mother at various places including the Haddon House in Haddonfield, New Jersey.