Mrs. Geraldine Yvonne Buie-Farmer

The Life & The Legacy of Geraldine Yvonne Buie-Farmer Geraldine Yvonne Buie-Farmer was born on Monday, March 18, 1940 in Washington, DC to the union of the late Thomas Fulton, Sr. and Bertie Mae Fulton. On Thursday, March 4, 2021, the Lord saw fit to provide Geraldine with her heavenly wings. At an early age, Geraldine accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized. She was a lover of the Word of God and though she reached the ripe age of eighty (80) years, Geraldine was still able to readily recall countless verses of the Bible, gospel hymns, as well as great times she had growing up in church. Geraldine was educated in the District of Columbia Public Schools System and often reminisced about her fun times at Dunbar High School. One of the fondest memories Geraldine had of Dunbar included her paying homage to the late, great, Pearl Bailey, as she masterfully sang Bailey's songs at the school's talent show; it was then schoolmates mistakenly believed that Geraldine and Bailey were related. After high school, Geraldine worked various jobs until she found her passion working in the psychiatric nursing field caring for patients who struggled with mental health, as well as those who were hearing impaired at St. Elizabeth Hospital in South East, DC. Geraldine was employed by the District of Columbia Government, having served 34 years and six (6) months at St. Elizabeth Hospital prior to retiring in 2001. It is at St. Elizabeth's that Geraldine cultivated relationships with co-workers who not only became friends, but whom Geraldine considered her St. Elizabeth family. Though while working at St. Elizabeth Hospital for such a long period and getting to know so many of her colleagues, Geraldine had a special love for friends who indeed became her family such as Jayne James, Alan (Glenna) Darlington, Jerline Baker, Carolyn Ivory, Charles (Cindy) Smith, Mrs. Bowser, Mrs. Yorkshire, and Kathleen Mallory (deceased) to name just a few. Additionally, she cultivated a kinship with Wilma Jean Telesford, Shirley Corley, and Alphonza C. Martin. Geraldine, affectionately called, "Gerald" was a woman with a big heart, and she wore her heart on her sleeve. From the time she was a young girl about the age of six (6) or seven (7), Gerald would often have people from the street who had fallen upon hard times, follow her home to get a meal. As she often told the story, her grandmother, Ione, called "Mama" by the family, would get frustrated with Gerald's unwavering sense of duty to help those in need. Mama would say, "Gerald, I'm tired of you bringing all these people here food". Gerald would woefully say, "But, Mama, the man is hungry." Each time, Mama would give in and feed whoever Gerald brought home. The love of caring for and feeding others never faded. One of Gerald's biggest dreams was to one day open an eatery, selling Southern homestyle food to the public. Though she never realized the dream of opening a business, she made it her business to always feed anyone who stopped by. Many will tell stories about how no matter the time of day or night....Or, night that was turning into day again, you would find Gerald in her kitchen cooking full meals in the middle of the night so that anyone who stopped by from a long and late day at work, or who had perhaps gone out for a night on the town, could come to her home to have a hearty meal, a glass of home-brewed sweet tea, and a laugh or two or ten to go with it. Besides cooking, Gerald was a creative woman who loved to sing and dance. Many would describe her as the "life of the party" because she loved to entertain and would excitedly "ham it up" in photos as photography was yet another of Gerald's passions. Gerald's creativity did not stop there. She loved writing, poetry and interior design, often showcasing her talents, and garnering admirers of her skills. Gerald absolutely loved children. She frequently stated that the "best time of her life was when she had her children and when her nieces and nephews were in her presence." She always stated that her nieces and nephews were also her children and she loved to have them over to stay the weekend and often, spend weeks, depending on what they were going through. Gerald would take her children (biological and otherwise) on short trips to the drive-in movies, beaches and the like, as well as long-distance trips out of town. Children were her world and she wanted them to always know they had a soft spot to land anytime they needed it. Gerald was truly a "family" person who also adored her parents and siblings, taking time to help them and show them love by the many good deeds she performed. "She was a great big sister" has been said many times, by several siblings. Family became even more a focus for Gerald as she married Henry Buie (deceased) of which that union brought forth a son, Kevin, and a daughter, Senétra. Forever a romantic, Gerald found love a second time in life, marrying James Farmer (deceased) to which a son, Marc, was born. Gerald wanted in total, eight (8) children, and though she only gave birth to three, to count her "chosen/surrogate children" would easily be deemed a tedious task. She was "Ma" and "Mom" to many. She was one who always had your back and front no matter what and would lend her ear to anyone who needed someone to listen. Gerald's memory was as long as one of her favorite animals (elephants), so when shooting the breeze with her, you knew she would at some point tell you a story as she was a true storyteller. Gerald battled various life-threatening illnesses and conditions, and on numerous occasions when it was believed she would not make it through, with the help of our Lord, Gerald would bounce back, defeating man's odds, and showing the power of God. Since the loss of her mother, Gerald was the matriarch of the Fulton family. Though she was the oldest living child of her parents' union, Gerald resisted aging, enjoying all genres of music (including rap), large-hoop earrings, and high heels. All will cherish Geraldine's memory fondly as to know Gerald was to love her. Geraldine Yvonne Buie-Farmer is preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Fulton, Sr., and Bertie Mae Fulton; Sisters, Rosalind (Sam) Harrison and Thomasine (Alfred) Stewart; Brothers Herman and Thomas Fulton, Jr.; Brother-in-law, Wayne Farmer, and Sister-in-law, Lucy Farmer. Geraldine leaves to cherish her memory, three children: Kevin Buie, Senétra Buie, and Marc (Monique) Farmer. Six grandchildren: Kevin Buie, Jr., Latarsha Benson, Kelvin Linder, Keimonee Buie, Kaivon Farmer, and Brooklyn Farmer. Seven great-grandchildren, Michael Benson, La'Kayla Daniels, Kevin Buie, Trinity Buie, Phyve Linder, Aa'Leyah Collins, Kai'Lynn Linder, and Masyn Porter. Geraldine also leaves to mourn, her brother-in-law, Charles (Greta) Farmer, sisters-in-law, Elnora Buie, Ann (Melvin) Williamson, Sheila (Fred) Edmonds-Rolle, and Jean Farmer. Chosen children, Reginald Sanders, Samuel Woodson, Johnny Gill, Derrick (Paulette) Telesford, James Todd (Simone) Smith, Jesse Porter, Byron Hope, Richard Mason, Ernie Davis, Justice League sons, Croffut Place, St. Elizabeth Hospital, Eastern Shore neighbors/families, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends. May she rest in eternal peace and power...

Mrs. Geraldine Yvonne Buie-Farmer

March 18, 1940 - March 4, 2021