Geraldine Pridgen Boykin

As the sun set on another day, God saw that His child was tired. She had fought a good fight. Geraldine endured several surgeries and multiple procedures. Through it all she kept her sense of humor and through the toughest times she never lost her faith. She would smile and say, “I’m just talking to God”. On Friday, January 13, 2023, God reached out His hand and called His child home. Escorted by His angels, His soldier, Geraldine Pridgen Boykin, was greeted by her husband, mother, father, and 10 sibling who had transitioned before her. I can see the joy and I can hear the celebration as they cheered Well Done! Well Done! Welcome Home!

Geraldine has two birthdates on record, October 13, 1936, and October 14, 1935. She celebrated both dates. She was born in Whiteville, NC to the late Obed Thomas Pridgen and Mattie Lou Goss Pridgen. Geraldine attended St Augustine University where she majored in Business and Education. She was a member of many clubs: Social Science Club, Pen Staff, Dramatics Club, Charm Club, Yearbook Staff, and many others. Upon graduating from St. Augustine University, Raleigh, NC, Geraldine moved to Washington, DC and worked in the Federal Government in the Office of the Surgeon General. A product of a segregated school system, she thought the Nation’s Capital would be more receptive to African Americans because, after all, this was the Nation’s Capital. In addition, she believed that the federal government would be an institution that would not discriminate against African Americans.

Geraldine learned early that while the colored and white signs were not always visible displayed, Washington, DC was really no different than the southern state she had left behind. It was very difficult receiving parity in the federal government. After four years of service when Dr. Martin Luther King began planning the March on Washington, she resigned July 1963 to volunteer to help plan the “March on Washington”.

As a member of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), Geraldine participated in marches to eliminate discrimination against African Americans in Garfinkel’s, Woodward and Lothrop; the Hecht Company in employment, trying on clothing before purchase and the overall treatment of African American customers. She marched each Saturday until these stores accepted African Americans as salespersons and allowed African Americans to try on garments.

After the “March on Washington” Geraldine together with Violet M. Gunther, Legislative Representative for Americans for Democratic Action (1950-1963) under the direction of Roy Wilkins, President of the NAACP (1964-1977) and Arnold Aronson established the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (1950-1980) to coordinate the effective lobbying activities of many National Organizations to get the 1964 Civil Rights Bill and the 1965 Voting Rights Bill enacted and signed into law.

In lieu of Flowers, the Family asks that donations be sent to the American Heart Association and American Kidney Fund.