Sister to Willie Festus Hogan, Jr. (1939-1979)

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Geraldine "Gerri" Moore

October 11, 1940 - May 9, 2022

Geraldine (Gerri) Hogan Moore was born in Bellville, TX on October 11, 1940 to the union of Rubelia Smith Johnson and Willie Festus Hogan. She was the second of two children, and only sister to her brother Willie Festus Hogan, Jr.

She moved to Houston at the age of five. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. Her higher learning endeavors include a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education from Wiley College, Marshall, TX where she pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Master of Science degree in School Administration from Texas Christian University, Ft. Worth, TX and she completed doctoral studies for the Ph.D. degree in Entrepreneur Leadership from Christian Leadership University. 

She was an exemplary educator who held with distinction, for over thirty years, the positions of Director of Athletics, Health and Physical Education in the Ft. Worth Independent School District; Director of Health and Physical Education in the Houston Independent School District; and Director of the Center for Disease Control, (CDC) funded Key to Life Program in the Health and Physical Education department of the Houston Independent School District.

Gerri was also a scholar, writer, and entrepreneur. As a scholarly and curriculum writer for the Glencoe Publishing Company, she was recognized as a prominent expert in the field of health and physical education and gave numerous training sessions and workshops for teachers and administrators both locally and nationwide. Additionally, Gerri established herself as an entrepreneur through the ownership of her catering business, Entertainment Elegance; a day care business for the enlisted families at Mather Air Force Base, Sacramento, CA and as the author, director, and producer of Christian based theatre plays for her company Master Productions.

Her involvement in and support of the community at large included being a member of such groups as: Progressive Gents which was a group of mostly male coaches in Ft. Worth that sponsored high-school basketball tournaments and awarded college scholarships; Jack & Jill of America, Inc. Debutante Ball and Beautillion Ball, dedicated to nurturing future African-American leaders; the Sojourner Truth Dancers which was an African dance group in Ft. Worth; and the Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (TAHPRD) which was a not-for-profit professional platform of individuals committed to the development of knowledge and programs that promote active, healthy lifestyles.  

Having been a Christian with a deep and abiding faith that sustained her while enduring and overcoming many of life's physical and spiritual challenges, she would always strive to do good works for the Lord. Her past church affiliations include Eastwood UMC, Evangelist Chapel AME, and South Union Missionary Baptist Church. Her final church home was with Jones Memorial UMC.  

In her role as the Theatre/Drama Director for those churches, their congregations were inspired, informed, and entertained by the Christian stage plays that she wrote and produced. Church members were the actors who performed in her plays, "Brother to Brother", "Behind Closed Doors," and "Beauty in the Spirit" just to name a few out of her twelve other plays that had been previously performed in various churches. Gerri's plays were an ongoing endeavor to spread the message of God's redeeming love. Accordingly, in honor of her legacy, she leaves these plays to any interested churches and/or Christian drama departments with permission to display her name and remove the copyright restrictions for future performances.

Family, friends, and colleagues knew Gerri as an outgoing and confident person with a bright, genuine smile, who always welcomed them to her home for holidays, special events, or to simply enjoy good food and fellowship. She had a gift of making anyone who came in contact with her feel special. Even as she battled Stage IV Ovarian Cancer the last three years of her life, she found a way to be an encourager to her fellow cancer patients and even the doctors and nurses who were there to care for her. She was a loyal friend, supportive colleague, exceptional family member, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, who was affectionately called by the name(s) Mimi, Momma, Gerri, Aunt Dean, and Deanie.  

She was preceded in death by her brother, Willie Festus Hogan, Jr., her father, Willie Festus Hogan, Sr., and her mother, Rubelia (Nana) Smith Johnson. She nurtured a loving relationship with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and everyone she knew. She never met a stranger. Gerri leaves to cherish her memory and carry on her legacy, two daughters of Houston, TX, and son of Atlanta, GA; sons-in-law, step-sister, Linda Kaye Kizzie of Houston, TX; seven grandchildren, two great grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.