Rena graduated in 1946 from Tech High School. In 1950, she graduated from Memphis State University with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education and was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. Rena was a soprano soloist at Linden Avenue – Lindenwood Christian Church for over thirty years and also sang with Memphis Opera Theatre with roles in “Amahl and the Night Visitors”, “Rigaletto”, “Susanna”, “Barber of Seville”, and “Carmen”. She was active in several music clubs in Memphis. She served as President of Etude, Camarata, Renaissance and Beethoven Music clubs and had been on the Board of Directors of the Beethoven Club, Memphis Opera Theatre, and Opera Memphis.