Remembering the life of Edith Renfrow Smith episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 9, 2026 · 47 MIN

Remembering the life of Edith Renfrow Smith

from Talk of Iowa · host Charity Nebbe

The first Black woman to graduate from Grinnell lived to be 111. She was admired for her wit and wisdom and helped with the preservation of her rich family history. We listen back to producer Dani Gehr's 2025 conversation with Renfrow Smith at her home in Chicago. Then, host Charity Nebbe spoke with the author of a children's book about Renfrow Smith, 'No One is Better Than You,' and the Grinnell professor that led the Renfrow family history project, Tamara Beauboeuf-Lafontant. Then, we learn about an Iowa organization that keeps pets and their owners together, assisting elderly and low-income Iowans and those with disabilities.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 9, 2026

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Remembering the life of Edith Renfrow Smith

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