Sheryl Flowers was the executive producer of Tavis Smiley's shows on National Public Radio and Public Radio International and his Director of Communications. "When I left NPR, Sheryl was the only person I brought with me," Smiley said in an audio statement. "She was my visionary, she was my leader...she was my abiding friend." Flowers died Tuesday of breast cancer at age 42. Smiley's website