Gerald Wesley Christmas

Returned home to his Creator on January 5, 2022, after three plus weeks of fighting sepsis and prostate cancer. The youngest of eight, he was born in Leonia, New Jersey, on January 20, 1942, to John Earl and Caroline (née Alston) Christmas. Following graduation from Leonia High School in 1959, he joined the U.S. Air Force for four years. Later, he was in the USAF Reserves, 1977-1991.

Gerald studied for the ministry at Virginia Seminary College, Lynchburg, Virginia. He was pastor of Galilee Baptist Church in Louisa County, Virginia in the mid-1970’s. In 1986 he was hired by Georgetown University as a budget analyst. After retiring, Gerald focused on music, taking piano and voice lessons. He built a sound studio in his home and produced three CDs for family and friends.

Gerald was the beloved husband and companion of Patrick Riley for 30 years. They married on September 18, 2008, in Santa Cruz, California, when it became legal to do so. Besides Patrick, he is survived by his sisters Gwendolyn Ash and Joyce Burgess-Lee and his brothers Cleveland (Betty) and Arnold (Frances) Christmas and a sister-in-law Tula Christmas. Further, he is survived by a son JeVon (Stacey) in Rahway, New Jersey, and grandchildren Maya and Malik Lee and Jayden Christmas; a son Jonathan (Jennifer) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and step-father to Brian (Erica Penttila) and Kathryn (Steve Dwyer) Riley of Washington, DC, and Kevin Riley of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Grandpa Gerald to Eleanor, Clara, Arlo, Lucy and Santo. He is survived also by numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his brothers John and Vincent Christmas and his sister Martina Christmas.

Special thanks to the nurses on 6A and 6B at the Virginia Hospital Center, the doctors and staff at Kaiser Permanente and the dialysis technicians at DaVita Arlington.

A memorial service is planned for January 30 at 3 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gerald's name to the Southern Poverty Law Center.