JOHNSON GERALDINE NIVA JOHNSON Professor, Folklorist, Author, Entrepreneur On November 16, 2016, Gerri, who had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage four days previously, died peacefully with her husband holding her hand. She was born on July 10, 1940 to Clifford and Janet Niva in Superior, Wisconsin. The family moved to Duluth, MN where she attended public school. She was 6th in her 1959 graduating class at Denfeld High School. In 1963, she graduated cum laude from the University of Minnesota, Duluth with a degree in English and was awarded Department Honors in the English Department. Gerri moved to Tucson, AZ to teach freshman English at Pueblo High School and met her future husband, James E. Johnson. They were married at St. Phillips in the Hills Episcopal Church on August 20, 1965. A year later they moved to Los Angeles where she received her Masters Degree from UCLA in 1968 before moving to Washington, DC. She taught freshman English for a year at Howard University and then at the University of Maryland, College Park. Feeling insufficiently challenged, she and her husband bought and reconstructed a series of three derelict houses, always living in the construction site. She participated in all aspects of the reconstructions. Gerri embarked on a doctorate in English at the University of Maryland. In 1978, she was chosen by The Folklife Center of the Library of Congress to spend eight weeks on the Blue Ridge Project in Galax, VA. The work was intense but served her well in her research for her PHD which was granted in 1980. Her dissertation entitled "The Weaving of Rag Rugs: A Women's Craft in Western Maryland" was turned into a book by the University of Tennessee. She taught a course training low income students to be bank tellers and for 10 years grew a donut business from three to six shops. She loved Persian and Himalayan cats and rescuing them and always had more than one. Gerri was known for being smart, straight forward with everyone, and possessing a wicked wit. She labeled herself as a Humphrey Democrat and loved to "discuss" politics. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 17, 2016 at 11 a.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church, 3240 O Street, NW, Georgetown, DC. A reception in the Parish Hall will follow. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to Joseph's House at josephshouse.org or the Whiitman-Walker Health at www.whitman-walker.org.In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to Joseph's House at josephshouse.org or the Whiitman-Walker Health at www.whitman-walker.org.