The Longevity Project of Grambling State University’s Social Research Club will pay tribute to super-centenarian Maggie Renfro in a video/Power Point presentations at her memorial service and homegoing celebration.
The memorial service will be held at St. Rest Baptist Church in Minden on Friday, and the homegoing will be Saturday, at 11 a.m., at Pleasant Valley in Athens.Renfro was one of the oldest super-centenarians participating in Grambling State University’s Longevity Project. She was also one of Louisiana’s oldest citizens and the third oldest person in the United States.
On Sept. 24, 2006, she was first interviewed in her home by student researchers Bennie Mckinsey, Robyn Foster, Icerine Wyngarde and their adviser, Dr. Frances Staten. She shared her secret to a long life as “I serve God and do like he wants me to do.”
She also indicated her date of birth to be November 14, 1894, which differs by one year from what was reported by the Gerontology Research Group. Ms. Renfro lived to cast her vote for the first Black President, Barack Obama.
Ms. Renfro made a significant contribution to the ongoing research entitled “In Search of the Ingredients to Longevity: Voices of the Rural Black Elderly.”
Two days prior to her 114th birthday (Nov, 14, 2009), a luncheon was given in her honor by GSU Social Research Club with the support of the President’s Office, faculty, administrators, students and the community.