Edith Renfrow Smith, a rare “supercentenarian,” recently celebrated her 110th birthday, making her the Chicago Teacher Pension Fund’s (CTPF’s) oldest member. Born on July 14, 1914, in Grinnell, Iowa, Edith Renfrow Smith made history as the first black woman to graduate from Grinnell College in 1937. Her journey was marked by resilience, determination, and breaking barriers.
Edith, her parents, and her five siblings, were one of the few black families living in Grinnell, Iowa. The Renfrow family held education, community, and equality in the highest regard. Her grandfather’s escape from slavery through the Underground Railroad in 1859, aided by abolitionist John Brown, and that legacy left a lasting mark on her family. Despite the challenges they faced, Edith’s childhood was imbued with determination and a thirst for knowledge.
Edith’s graduation from Grinnell College was a historic achievement. She majored in psychology with minors in economics and sociology. In 2019, at 105, she was given an honorary degree from Grinnell College. In September, Edith plans to return to Grinnell College for the opening of Renfrow Hall, a dorm which will be named in her honor, and she already has a gallery at Grinnell named for her.