The Renfrow Story

How do you celebrate a milestone that only one in a million (possibly more) will ever reach? For the delightful Edith Renfrow Smith, you do it by going to afternoon tea at a favorite spot on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.

On July 14, 2024, Edith and her daughter, Alice, got dressed up in their finest for an afternoon high tea and celebration. They were joined by family: The great-great-great(how many greats I’m not sure) granddaughter of Miss Edith’s aunt, Theodora Craig Lucas, and her husband. (Tracking the links of the extended family who still connect with and celebrate her takes a better understanding of second-cousins and once-removed vocabulary than I have.) Also joining them for the celebration was Tamara Beauboeuf, the Grinnell College professor who has been leading the team researching her life and legacy, and her summer research student, Valeriya. (Many thanks to Tamara for permission to share this photo.)

From Tamara’s account, it was as beautiful a gathering as you can imagine such an event should be. They were serenaded by wonderful musicians. They were served delectable delights. The guest of honor was glowing in her lovely purple – matched only by the glow coming from her daughter.

Back at Brookdale, Miss Edith’s room was overflowing with flowers and gifts and cards from friends and admirers near and far. She had been been featured a few days earlier in a wonderful article in the Chicago Sun Times by Neil Steinberg. Mr. Steinberg has done a piece on her each year since her 107th birthday. This time he was invited to witness Edith and Alice baking pie together. His story does a great job of capturing the banter between these two strong women, both a bit stubborn and strong willed, but with the kind of loving bond one can only hope for between mother and daughter.

Among the birthday items delivered to Miss Edith for her special day was a box full of cards collected in Grinnell and hand delivered by Tamara. Well over 100 cards were sent to add to the collection of those that had been mailed directly. Some had been hand made at a celebratory gathering in Grinnell a few days before, when the community gathered for the opening of an exhibit in the Grinnell Area Arts Council. The joy and love for this woman overflowed and a bit of it was captured in this video that was compiled and shared with her on her birthday. (The exhibit will be up until August 10 and I would encourage anyone in the area to stop in and give it a look.)

Of course there will be another big party in Grinnell in September. The dedication of Renfrow Hall will take place on Saturday, September 28th. And every indication is that the guest of honor will be with us. The planning committee is looking at the best way to transport the guest of honor from Chicago to Grinnell, with as much TLC as possible. There will be a parade in her honor on Friday where school children and area residents will join in a grand homecoming celebration for her. Friday night there will be a concert in the park to bring together campus and community members. Besides the official dedication ceremony on Saturday there will be other opportunities to learn about her life and legacy.

So it will be a grand way to mark her life at 110 years and 10 weeks! I hope you are planning to be there. I know I wouldn’t miss it for the world.