Chicago retired school teacher Edith Renfrow Smith turned 107 on July 14, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. She was born in Grinnell, Iowa, on July 14, 1914, and was the first Black graduate from Iowa’s Grinnell College.
Mrs. Smith was born to Lee and Eva Renfrow. Eva’s grandfather, George Craig, was once a slave. He made a living working as a barber in Grinnell. Smith gave reporters from the Chicago Sun-Times some advice for living a long life.
“There is no message! People worked hard! And didn’t let the kids run the street. They always kept their children busy doing something and they were always looking to the future.”
Mrs. Smith graduated from Grinnell College in 1937 with a degree in psychology. After working for the City of Chicago, the University of Chicago, and the State of Illinois, Smith worked as a public school teacher. She was also honored with a doctorate from Grinnell College in 2019.
Happy 106th birthday to Edith Renfrow Smith ’37, the first African American woman to graduate from Grinnell! Learn about her remarkable life growing up in Grinnell and attending the College on the All Things Grinnell podcast:https://t.co/2WAjExbcfn pic.twitter.com/kj7YBVjEkE
— Grinnell College (@GrinnellCollege) July 14, 2020
On the latest episode of All Things Grinnell, host Ben Binversie ‘17 sits down with the College’s first African American female graduate, Edith Renfrow Smith ‘37. ? Listen here: https://t.co/jih13f1iq5 #GrinnelliansForLife #alumni #GrinnellianVoices pic.twitter.com/UQKKmmIcZx
— Grinnell College (@GrinnellCollege) October 29, 2019
In 1940, Miss Edith married Henry Smith, and the couple had two daughters, Alice and Virginia. Musician Herbie Hancock grew up across the street from the Smiths, and he remembered Mrs. Smith well.
“Mrs. Smith lived across the street from us,” said Hancock. “She and my mother were the best of friends. Mrs. Smith deeply respected etiquette and manners, whenever I visited the Smith family, I knew I had to be on my best behavior. Our whole family had a deep respect and love for the Smith family and of course including their two daughters Virginia and Alice, who were dear friends of mine.”
Hancock taught Alice how to play the “Chopsticks” on the piano, and eventually, he also attended Grinnell College. Hancock wasn’t the only celebrity Mrs. Smith has come across in her 107 years. She has also met Amelia Earhart, Muhammad Ali and Duke Ellington, although Miss Edith wasn’t impressed. “They’re just people,” she said.
Miss Edith also talked about her grandparents and their experiences as slaves. Her grandmother was born in South Carolina, and her grandfather was the son of a slave owner from Virginia.
“My grandfather came from Virginia. His father was a white owner. My grandmother was born in South Carolina. Her father was a Frenchman, and her mother was a slave, but she wasn’t all slave. They wouldn’t put a dark slave in the house. Both of them were part white, so consequently, you know they already mixed with whites. It made no difference. You could look white; you were slaves.”
At 107, Miss Edith is still sharp as a tack, and Northwestern University asked Miss Edith to participate in their study of people for over 80 with good memories, and she obliged.
Happy Birthday, Miss Edith!
