Patricia Southall, former Miss Virginia USA, ex-wife of Martin Lawrence, and ex-wife of Emmitt Smith, is the founder of the non-profit organization Treasure You. She is also known as an American spokesperson and CEO of Pat Smith Enterprises.
Wondering how she embodied these personalties? Read till the end, as this article will explain.
To give you a tip of the ice, Patricia came into the limelight first as a beauty queen and model, winning Miss Virginia USA in 1993. She started dating Martin Lawrence in 1992 and tied the know with the Bad Boys actor in 1995.
After her relationship with Martin ended in 1997, she went into another marriage with NFL Football running back Emmitt Smith.
Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities was founded by her and Emmitt Smith in 2000, followed by Treasure You – a non-profit supporting women in financial, emotional, or spiritual need.
She’s not just known for her popular work. She’s also a published author of “Second Chances,” released on May 17, 2016, and a featured speaker for Women of Faith, The Potter’s House in Dallas, and Lakewood Church in Houston.
The following table contains a summary of Patricia Southall’s profile information.
| Name | Patricia “Pat” Annette Southhall Smith |
| Age | 53 years old |
| Date of Birth | 17 December, 1970 |
| Nationality | American |
| Career | Model, Activist |
| Parents | Henry Mills Southall Mildred Brinkley Southall |
| Children | Jasmin Page Lawrence Emmitt James Smith IV Elijah Alexander James Smith Skylar Smith |
| Ex-husbands | Martin Lawrence Emmitt Smith |
| @patsmithty | |
| Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Books | Second Chances |
Patricia Southall Early Life
Patricia Southall or Pat as she’s simply called, was born on 17 December 1970 in Chesapeake, Virginia. She grew up under the care of her parents, Henry Mills Southall and Mildred Brinkley Southall. Her father was a retired Visiting Teacher from the Portsmouth City Schools.
She is 53 years old at the moment.
During her early life, she created many memories with her twin sister, Pamela L. Southall. Together, they used to work on their family’s farm, helping their father with tasks like cutting grass and bagging peanuts.
After graduating from Western Branch High School, she moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia.
She obtained a college degree in Journalism from James Madison University (JMU).
Patricia was a prominent member of JMU’s African-American community in university. She held several leadership positions, including the presidency of the Student Government Association and membership in a campus leadership group.
Additionally, she participated in the Miss Madison contest and was part of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
Patricia lost her mother to breast cancer in 1992 in her senior year in College. After her mother passed away, Pat and her sister Pam cared for their father, Henry Southall. She also lost her father on December 23, 2018.
Miss Virginia USA
Patricia Southall is a woman of exceptional beauty and intelligence, with stunning green eyes, a flawless physique, a captivating smile, and a wonderful personality.
She made history in 1993 by becoming the first African American to win the Miss Virginia USA beauty pageant.
She contested against 41 contestants in the pageant held at Virginia Intermont College.
She represented Virginia at the Miss USA Pageant in 1998, where she achieved the impressive feat of being the first runner-up.
Everyone was left breathless by her performance at Miss USA. Her exotic beauty was rare, not to mention how outgoing, smart, and elegant she was.
Unfortunately, she was the first runner-up to Lu Parker of South Carolina in the Miss USA competition. Nevertheless, she achieved the remarkable feat of being selected as Miss Congeniality.
Career
Patricia Southall began her career working for Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder after graduating in 1992.
She landed the job at Douglas Wilder’s Media Office, where she met comedy actor Martin Lawrence, who was also working in Richmond, Virginia, at the time.
Southall is actively running the “Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities,” created in January 2000. The foundation’s main goal is to create opportunities for disadvantaged youth. The “Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities” was honored at the Trumpet Awards in 2012
Patricia Southall’s television career includes;
- Correspondent for Extra
- Guest host for Access Hollywood
- Host of “Treasure You” on Good Morning Texas
- Host of Keep the Faith
She appeared on shows such as;
- Halfway Point
- Canal Street
- Dr Phil
- The Talk
- Good Morning America
She also had recurring roles and guest appearances on hits such as Beverly Hills 90210, Sunset Beach, and The Wayans Brothers Show.
She is a member of the prestigious Vogue 100 and was voted one of Dallas’s 10 Most Beautiful Women in 2011. She is a celebrity role model for the Dallas Elevators mentor program for Dallas ISO high school students.
Marital Life
Patricia Southall has been married twice and is currently unmarried. The breakdown of her marriages is as follows:
Marriage with Martin Lawrence
Patricia Southall and Martin Lawrence’s relationship began in 1992.
They met in Virginia, where Southall worked at Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder’s media office. Martin, known for his work in TV shows and movies, had come to Richmond, Virginia, for a Def Comedy Jam concert.
They dated for three years until they formally tied the knot on January 7, 1995.
Unexpected twists and security concerns marked the wedding ceremony. The wedding was initially supposed to occur at the Third Baptist Church in Portsmouth.
Due to credible threats against the event and its participants, it had to be relocated to the Waterside Marriott Hotel in Norfolk.
The former couple welcomed their first baby, Jasmine Paige Lawrence, on January 15, 1996 – almost a year after their wedding.
In 1996, a year after “Bad Boys” was released, Martin and Patricia’s relationship deteriorated.
Martin Lawrence was reportedly the reason for the break-up because the ugly parts of Lawrence’s relationship with Patricia Southall were exposed in May 1996 when police detained Lawrence after he was found wandering in the middle of a busy intersection in Sherman Oaks, California, Los Angeles.
People watched as he was drunk, mucus fell from his face, and he yelled, “Fight the power!” with a fully loaded handgun in his pocket.
Again, the actor was arrested at Burbank Airport In August 1996 for attempting to board a plane to Phoenix with a loaded 9mm Beretta.
He told police that he believed guns were allowed on flights. No charges were filed.
Later, Martin Lawrence filed for divorce from Patricia Southall in October 1996. Patricia responded by getting a restraining order against him. She said Martin threatened to kill her and charged him with “irrational and abusive behavior.”
Martin denied her claims, saying he was taking “psychotropic” medicine and was cared for by a full-time nurse.
Their divorce proceeding was finalized in September 1997, and Martin Lawrence and Patricia Southall went their separate ways.
It’s unclear how their divorce proceedings were concluded, but Southall was challenging a prenuptial agreement and asking for $50,000 monthly to support herself.
This supports the rumors from Lawrence’s friends that Patricia was solely interested in the comedian’s wealth and connections.
Emmitt Smith
Patricia Southall met Emmitt Smith during a music festival in Aruba in 1998. She married former NFL champion and Football running back Emmitt Smith in 2000 after her previous marriage ended. She lived in Dallas with Emmitt Smith.
Smith already had a daughter, Rheagen, from his previous relationship before meeting Southall. However, during their union, they had three children – Emmitt James Smith, Skylar Elizabeth Paige Smith, and Elijah Alexander James Smith.
Their union was enviable. They together created and managed a charity organization named “Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities.”
The couple announced their separation in a joint statement in 2020, ending their 20-year marriage, but they continue to maintain a cordial relationship as co-parents of their children.
Children
All together, Patricia Southall gave birth to four children;
- Jasmine Paige Lawrence – born on January 15, 1996
- Emmitt James Smith IV – born on May 15, 2002
- Elijah Alexander James Smith – born on September 22, 2010
- Skylar Smith – born on October 15, 2003
She was a caring stepmother to Rheagen Smith, Smith’s daughter with his ex-girlfriend Hope Wilson.
Charity
Patricia Southall started a movement called “Treasure You” to inspire and uplift women to pursue their passions in life despite their circumstances or setbacks.
She is the CEO and Founder of Treasure You and the President of Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities.
She actively supports battered women’s shelters and advocates for breast cancer initiatives.
Check out: Patricia Southall’s net worth.
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