Geraldine "Geri" Dye entered into this earthly realm on May 4th, 1957 (under the zodiac sign of Taurus The Bull) in York, South Carolina through the portal of the late Margaret Woods Dye and Otis Dye. Geri left her earthly body on 11 March 2026.

Geri was raised by her Grandmother Alma Dye after her Aunt Phenie, Aunt Frances and Cousin Betty jokingly "stole" her from Hickory Grove in 1958 and brought her to Spartanburg to be raised on the Historic South Side. Geri became known as "Lean" growing up and her mother Margaret died shortly thereafter. However, "Lean" was surrounded by a tremendous tribe that included her neighbors The Clowneys, The Richardsons, The Blackwells and The Millers, etc. These families served as pillars in her life as well as in the entire community.

"Lean" was baptized at Mount Moriah Baptist Church by the late Reverend Doctor J. Leon Pridgen. She was an active member of the Mount Moriah church family and attended Deacon Melvin Gooden's Bible Study Class.

"Lean" graduated from Spartanburg High School in 1976 after surviving de-segregation amid the Jim Crow Era like so many others. The "Boomer" Generation deserves every ounce of respect, care, and reparations for what they continue to endure as descendants of slaves and survivors of genocide.

"Lean" relocated to Connecticut after high school and requested to be referred to as "Geri". In Stamford, Geri became the Residence Manager at the YWCA. In 1989, Geri gave birth to a daughter; Liza Margaret via William "Bill" Macklin (1935-2001), a community organizer, activist and the Director of the South End Community Center in Stamford.

Shortly after Liza's birth, Geri made the decision to return to South Carolina and raise Liza there. In Spartanburg, Geri maintained a career as a professional artist, working in a variety of fields including Photo Lab Technician and Graphic Design at Spartan Stamp & Sign.

In 2007, Geri took on the monumental challenge of achieving her Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art at Converse College. It was during this time that Geri discovered her love of the art of Silver Smith Jewelry Making. Geri was taught the profession by Dangerfield Ashton and the many white men who dominate that industry. Geri went on to become one of the only Black Women Silversmith Teachers in the South Eastern Region of America, taking her students to the mountains of North Carolina to mine for gems for their jewelry pieces.

Geri's health began to decline after many years of improper art preparation; handling toxic oil paint fumes and working in closed environments without proper ventilation. Geri had been diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, Hidradenitis, Autoimmune Deficiency as well as an array of other health issues. Her cause of death was confirmed to be natural and her soul became free of her plagued body in the comfort of her bed in her beautiful home that she owned!

Geri is preceded in death by her sister Reverend Jean Dye Currence of Hickory Grove, SC. She is survived by her daughter Liza Dye of Brooklyn, NYC, and her siblings: Ruby Good of Hickory Grove, SC, Mary Dye of Stamford, CT, Shirley Dawkins of Spartanburg, SC, Margaret Priscilla Good (Harry Good) of Hickory Grove, SC, and William Dye of Gastonia, NC, Aunt Phenie Golatt (Moses Golatt) of Richmond, VA, close Cousin Wayne Gill and a host of loving cousins, friends, colleagues and relatives.

Geri has long planned to be cremated by her trusted colleagues and community at J.W. Woodwards Funeral Home, so there will not be any funeral arrangements.

The Geri Dye Art Show will be on Saturday, May 2, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. at the Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, SC.

We thank all of our Ancestors for their hard work, sacrifice and for their protection in the Spirit Realms that we humans cannot see. Àṣẹ!

In lieu of flowers please make donations to: Brooklyn Jail Support. Venmo: bkjs247