Yes, I have had exactly the same "closed mouth" responce from a Ranew relative. I had driven all the way from the near the Canadian border to Quitman
Georgia to interview who hadd identified herself as my grandmother. She talked to me for 2 hours about all kinds of family stories, while I madly filled in family group sheets. After returning home, I began to check census and vital records for validation. Not one, single word was true! As it turns out she was not my grandmother at all, and had known it all the time! The truly sad part is that I was raised in a series of foster homes and I was just thrilled to have found a "relative". She was a great aunt, but chosse to lie. I do not know what these Renews are hiding but I think her behaviour was reprehensible!