Geraldine Ruby Hartley

On March 6, 2024, Geraldine Ruby Hartley (Jerri), 91, went home to be with Jesus.  She was born in Baltimore on January 12, 1933, and resided in Mt. Peasant Beach, Pasadena in Maryland for 69 years when relocated to Florida in 2002 to be near family.  Jerry is preceded by her loving husband, Maurice Hartley and is survived by her two loving sons, Maurice Hartley, Jr. (Bill), and Keith Hartley along with his wife Tammy.    She was blessed with loving grandchildren Keith Hartley, Jr. and wife Allison, Johnathan Hartley, Eric Hartley and wife Kelley and Doug Jenkins.  Seven additional blessings include her amazing great grandchildren Kayla, Blake, Will, Emily and Harmony (the twins), James and Arya.  She has many cousins, nieces and nephews who dearly loved her as well.  She joins her devoted mother and father and older sister Garnet Evans and husband Elwood in heaven; And is survived by her baby sister, Sandy Van Fleet and husband Dickie.  

Jerri graduated from Glen Burnie High School in 1951 and immediately started working as a secretary in Annapolis until becoming pregnant with her first son Bill.  While building her home and family she enjoyed volunteering extensively in many organizations; including her community, local schools, churches, boy scouts, Woman’s Aglow as well as worldwide ministries.  She also enjoyed traveling, camping, swimming, boating and hosting elaborate affairs; But the delight of her life was spending time with family and sharing the Gospel. 

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Jerri was extremely creative and truly had a servant’s heart.  She was always ready and willing to help anyone in any way possible.  She was always a very active participant in the schools, churches and organizations that she was a part of.   She and her colleagues would plan holiday parties and events, which included creating and producing extravagant plays; in which they wrote scripts, hand designed and made props and costumes.   In addition, to all of this, she found time to tutor and home school several family members.   She was an officer of the Mt. Pleasant Beach Community Association for which she held many events that brought the community residents together.   Everyone knew Jerri’s events always included exciting games, décor, food, fellowship and fun for all.

Jerri and Maury, along with longtime friends Phyllis and Sam Brown founded Victory Bible Church which was birthed from Bay Area Ministries, a gathering of believers that met in Jerri and Maury’s basement.  At Victory Bible Church she served on the Board of Directors and as the church secretary for many years.  Jerri served as an adult and children’s Sunday school teacher, prison minister, social director, evangelist, intercesser, prayer and healing minister, and sang in many choirs including the “Joy Bells”. 

 Needless to say, Jerri is the spiritual matriarch of our family.  Her loving way of sharing God’s Word was instrumental in bringing numerous family members and many others to Salvation through Christ.