I Am Because They Were
From an early age Dr. Sonji Reno Williams Garvin Baxter was taught that she could do anything that she put her mind to. The daughter of a school teacher and Baptist preacher, she was reared by her elderly maternal grandparents, Sallie and Houston Williams who were sharecroppers. Her village of guiding lights, instilled into her a thirst for knowledge, taught her the value of hard work and self-reliance and molded her into the person that she has become today.
Growing up as a child in rural Sumter, South Carolina on her grandparents’ farm, Sonji’s imagination took flight. It was there that she began writing and performing theatrical plays utilizing her siblings and cousins as performers and older relatives as audience members. Growing up Sonji was given the opportunity to polish her theatrical and speaking skills through speeches, plays, pageantry and other activities. It was during these years that Sonji Reno realized that she could impact her community through the arts.
Sonji Reno and her first cast of characters: her first cousins circa 1970.
Baby Sonji poses for the camera in 1967.
Sonji Reno performing during Miss Black Sumter 1986.
Sonji Reno performing during Miss Black SC 1984.
Imagination to Reality
In the 1980’s as a student at Morris College, Sonji Reno authored one of her most prolific monologues, “The Denied Mother” and took her show on the road to critical acclaim. She made history in 1988 when she became the First Lady of Gospel serving as the first female gospel broadcaster of the Sunday Morning Gospel Show on WWDM 101.3 Sumter- Columbia, South Carolina where she was mentored by the late legendary O.E. Martin.
In the 1990's, Sonji triumphantly overcame numerous obstacles, including racism and sexism, while pursuing her Masters in Theater, Speech and Dance at the University of South Carolina. She credits the program with burnishing her theatrical credentials and cites the obstacles that she faced as a student as making her even more determined to be successful. Sonji had dreams of pursuing a career in Hollywood; however, refusing to become a “starving artist”, she prioritized her children and family and decided to pursue a more stable career path.
If not now, when? If not me, who?
Sonji Reno is a motivational speaker, educator, writer, director, actress and producer who continues to be a trailblazer and inspiration for women and girls, demonstrating that nothing is impossible with faith, hard work, perseverance and vision. Sonji Reno Productions, LLC was birthed out of Sonji’s lifelong passion to instill a love for the arts into the next generation and to bring happiness and joy into the lives of others through the performing arts.
Depicted in our logo is the mythical Ghanaian bird, the Sankofa. The Sankofa’s body is facing forward, which represents progression, while its head is looking backwards, which encourages each of us to remember our past. In our logo the Sankofa is holding a comedy and tragedy mask, thus representing Sonji Reno's passion for the arts. The backdrop is of an ivy, which symbolizes strength, resilience and determination. Sonji Reno chose to adopt this symbol after her life-altering voyage to Ghana, West Africa in 2004.
Welcome to our website and please feel free to contact us, purchase tickets and learn more about our upcoming events.
Sonji Reno performed in Washington, DC at the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEP) Expo in 1987.