An illustrated biography of the life of Edith Renfrow Smith is now available for purchase from the Pioneer Bookstore (first edition, higher print quality) and from major retailers like Amazon (print on demand edition). Remarkable at age 111 as of July 14, 2025, she is an inspiration to many. She was born in Grinnell, Iowa, in 1914 to one of the few Black families in the area. Her grandparents were born into slavery. Her grandfather escaped via the Underground Railroad, traveling through Grinnell with John Brown in 1859. Her mother’s passion for education inspired all six of the Renfrow children to go to college. In 1937, Edith Renfrow became the first Black woman to graduate from Grinnell College. In September 2024, the college named their newest building Renfrow Hall in her honor. She was 110 years old at the time of the building dedication. She flew from Chicago to Grinnell in a private jet, was greeted by the community with a parade, and participated in the weekend of celebration in her honor.
This website documents the process of writing the book which was published in January 2024. It includes the ways that Mrs. Renfrow Smith and her daughter, Alice Smith, were involved every step of they way. You can order your copy from the Pioneer Bookstore in Grinnell.
Read about me and why I did this on the About the Author page.
Read about the journey of publishing this book
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Supercentenarian on TikTok
For the last several years Neil Steinberg of the Chicago Sun-Times has done a piece of Edith for her birthday. The first was when she was 107. Each has been a treat, but I think this piece for 110 tops the rest for charm and joy. He does a wonderful job capturing her spunk and…
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Now available from all the places
As of a few days ago the Renfrow book can be purchased from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and pretty much any bookstore in the country. If you’ve followed this journey for long, you know I am committed to supporting distribution through small bookstores and have been working with the Pioneer Bookstore in Grinnell for book…
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A note at 109 years, 11 months
Today I was delighted to find an envelope in my mailbox from my dear, sweet friend. Her handwriting is a bit more shaky than the first note I received back in 2015, and there are a few more dropped or jumbled words. But she is just shy of 109 years and 11 months old, so…
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Springing forward
I have be working on giving myself permission to work at a more normal pace. I confess I’m a bit disappointed that I haven’t managed to get the book into more bookstores yet, that I don’t have the ebook version ready, that I haven’t made a read-along version…. so many things that I’ve thought I…
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Talkin’ about books
The last couple of weeks have been about changing gears from getting books sent to libraries to sharing the story of writing the book. I’ve done author talks at Davis School, the Mayflower Home retirement community, and the library. I’ll be doing much the same on April 10th at the Community Education Council’s “Bucket Course”…
Pictures with Edith Renfrow Smith 2015-2023
No One is Better than You: Edith Renfrow Smith and the Power of a Mother’s Words
An illustrated biography for all ages.
Description
This illustrated biography is targeted at upper elementary readers but will be enjoyed by all ages. It has a strong message of empowerment. The text is by Monique McLay Shore, a friend of Mrs. Renfrow Smith who has spent several years researching her life. Illustrations are by Erica L. Butler, a Seattle based African American artist. Edith Renfrow Smith and her daughter, Alice Frances Smith, have been involved in the process from the very beginning. The posts on this website document the process of writing the book.
“No one is better than you. They may have more money. They may be more beautiful. But no one is any better than you.”
This wisdom learned from her mother has been a guiding message for Edith and one she shares frequently with others. It is fitting that this message is the cornerstone of the book about her life.
The Renfrow Story 