Geraldine Lira

March 12, 1923 - March 9, 2022

Geraldine (Geri) Marie Raymond Lira was born on March 12, 1933 on the Raymond Ranch, two miles east of Millbro, SD. She was the youngest of eleven children born to Mary (Frasier)Raymond and the only daughter of Soloman Raymond. She lived on the Raymond Ranch until after the death of her mother in 1937. She married Martin Martinez and they had eight children: Gayle Redhorse, Martina Martinez, Bruce Martinez, Wade Martinez, Clifford Martinez, Virginia Martinez, Gerald Martinez and Martha Martinez. In 1956 they moved to Oakland, California on the Relocation Program with their children. She became active in the American Indian Community through Intertribal Friendship House (IFH). In 1971 she enrolled in a program at IFH to train Indian Social Workers. She received her AA in 1973 from Merritt College. In 1979 she graduated from San Francisco State University with her BS in Social Work. She continued her work and commitment to this community and in 1981 graduated with her Masters in Social Work. When faced with what seems like insurmountable challenges she rose to the occasion. She educated herself, fought when she needed to fight and sat down and negotiated ferociously on our behalf. She was strong advocate who sat at tables of power in the Bay Area to represent American Indians in our local and state government. She fearlessly went inside systems which historically did not serve us and made our voices heard. She brought back resources and delivered help to the people. Her work along with many others is the foundation on which our community was built: care for the family and service to the people. She worked at the Native American Health Center in the 1980’s and completed her career as a medical Social Worker at City County of San Francisco at Laguna Honda Hospital. We are forever grateful for her sacrifice, what she has taught us and we honor her on this day.