Geraldine Richards Welch was born on March 1st, 1922, to Ada Lee and Maxie Richards, at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. She later moved to Cleveland, Ohio where she attended Giddings, Observation, Fairmount Junior High School, and graduated from John Hay High school with a major in Business Administration.
After graduation she worked for the United States Government Cleveland Ordinance Shelf Department and later with Murray Manufacturing. She also worked for Phil-Mar Lamp Corporation where she initially retired.
Geraldine later met Neisler “Johnny” Welch whom she married. There were no children of the union. They were happily married for over forty wonderful years and traveled quite a bit until his passing. Auntie Geraldine was never one to just sit still and do nothing. Determined to stay active, she continued to work independently well into her nineties and was proud of her accomplishments.
Gerry, as she was often affectionately called, had a very strong will and passion for continued learning. She loved the Lord, life, family, friendships, sports—basketball, football, baseball, crossword puzzles, reading daily scripture, novels, the newspaper and gossip magazines, keeping up with politics, world news, and technology. Auntie was also quite the feisty fashionista.
Her secret to longevity: She could not keep still—was always doing something. A lot like the “Energizer Bunny” on steroids at 102 years of age! She remained active—shopping, cooking, maintaining her household—living independently until her passing.
Geraldine leaves to celebrate her life, her late brother James Richards Sr., Children: June, James (Janet), and Linda-Marcise, Great Nephews: Darien (Sheree), Malik, James Arthur III (Tamika), Jamaal, Andre. Great-Great Niece: Aloria Barbara Richards, Great-Great Nephew: Hendrix Edmond Hale. And a whole host of treasured relatives and friends who loved her.