Edith Renfrow Smith, a remarkable figure in American history, passed away on December 29, 2023, at her home in Chicago. She was 111 years old, making her one of the few individuals classified as “supercentenarians,” those who live to at least 110 years. Renfrow Smith’s life spanned significant historical events and included personal interactions with influential figures, marking her as a pioneering Black woman known for her quiet strength and resilience.
A Journey Through History
Born in Poweshiek County, Iowa, in 1912, Renfrow Smith entered a world where her community consisted of just 20,000 residents, among whom only 55 were Black. Her grandfather, George Craig, escaped enslavement with the help of abolitionist John Brown and later worked as a barber in Grinnell. Her parents, Lee and Eva Renfrow, provided for their family through jobs as a cook and a laundress, demonstrating a commitment to education that would shape their children’s futures. “My mother insisted that education was the only thing that could not be taken away,” she shared in a 2023 interview.
Against the backdrop of the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling, which established the doctrine of “separate but equal,” Renfrow Smith’s family ensured that all six of their children attended college. She herself graduated from Grinnell College in 1937, becoming the first Black woman to earn a degree from the institution. During her time there, she met legendary aviator Amelia Earhart, who visited the campus as a guest speaker, leaving a lasting impression on the young student.
A Career in Education and Community Engagement
Renfrow Smith entered the workforce during the Great Depression, a time when Black unemployment rates were astonishingly high. She secured a position as a secretary for Oscar De Priest, the first African American elected to Congress in the modern era following Reconstruction. “He asked me if I would like to be a teacher,” Renfrow Smith recalled, which led her to pursue a career in education.
For 22 years, she served as an elementary school teacher in the Chicago Public School system, impacting countless young lives. In 1940, she married Henry Smith, and together they raised two daughters, Alice and Virginia, in the vibrant cultural landscape of Chicago’s South Side.
Renfrow Smith’s social circle included prominent figures such as renowned poet Gwendolyn Brooks, whom she encountered at a YWCA event, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., whom she met during a speaking engagement at a synagogue. Her connections reflected her deep engagement with the cultural movements of her time.
After retiring from her teaching career in 1976, Renfrow Smith dedicated her time to volunteer work and pursued her passion for pie-making. Known for her hospitality, she welcomed visitors into her home, including as recently as December 26, 2023, when she prepared a special fruit cocktail for her guests.
In her later years, she participated in the University of Chicago’s Healthy Aging & Alzheimer’s Research Care Center as a “SuperAger,” donating her remains for research to contribute further to the understanding of aging. In reflecting on her extraordinary life, Renfrow Smith noted, “A lot, a lot, a lot of good, and a lot of bad.” Yet, she maintained a positive outlook, advising others to “wake up every morning and thank the good Lord that you are alive and able to look at his wonderful world.”
Edith Renfrow Smith’s legacy is one of resilience, education, and cultural engagement. Her life story serves as a powerful reminder of the impact one individual can have on their community and the importance of remembering the past as we look toward the future.
