Geraldine Harmon Wilder was born on the 1st day of August in 1929; a mere 90 days before the great Wall Street Stock Market Crash, which led to the Great Depression, the deepest and longest-lasting economic downturn in history. The formative years of her youth during the Great Depression had a profound effect on Geraldine. Although she would give you the shirt off her back, be sure you paid her back. Most of us remember, if you ever borrowed money or one of her videos and later DVD collection.

Geraldine's parents were the late John Nathaniel Harmon and Mary Murray Harmon, from McCormick, South Carolina. Her parents were the first generation of their respective families to be born free from the bondage of slavery. The couple had six daughters, all of whom preceded Geraldine in death, Zena (Perkins), Ophelia (Johnson), Dorothy (Harmon), Verna (Fanning), and Vera (Martin). After the birth of Zena, John and Mary decided to move to Detroit, Michigan, where Geraldine and the other daughters were born.

Geraldine and her family, as far back as the 1930's were active in forming and developing the Spiritual Israel Church, with both of here parents serving as ministers in the ministry. The entire family held various leadership positions in the ministry spanning more than eight decades of collective years of service. For most of the years, her mother Bride Mother Mary Harmon, or her sister Bride Mother Ophelia Johnson, held the top position of the Mother Board for the national organization.

Geraldine was educated in Detroit Public Schools, graduating from Pershing High School. She continued her education at Wayne State University earning both a Bachelor and Masters Degree in Education. While in college, she pledged and joined the AKA sorority. After school, she taught primary grade children for Detroit Public Schools for nearly 40 years; pouring wisdom in students at Cooper, Higginbotham and MacDowell Elementary Schools.

Geraldine met Amos Wilder in the late 1950s. Although she owned a car, they dated using public transportation because she believed "I am not going to drive a man around."
They married and to their union was born three sons, Allan, Marvin and Gerald Wilder.

Geraldine was a devoted wife and mother. While working a full time job as a teacher, cub scout den mother and a loud and raucous fan for her sons at the baseball, football and basketball games.

Together with her husband, the formed several successful businesses. While her husband Amos had the business acumen, she was an avid money saver who was affectionately known inside the family as "NBG" the National Bank of Geraldine. In the 1980's, the couple started Multi-Media Education, a national supplies and in 1987 the started a retail store called the School House, a retail teachers' store located on the Avenue of Fashions in Detroit. This business employed her children, grandchildren and a host of other nieces and nephews.

Geraldine retired from Detroit Public Schools in 1989. She spent her retirement years enjoying he grandchildren and later caring for her husband who became ill. Amos Wilder died in 1994 and Geraldine spent the subsequent years enjoying her family. Her sisters were by far, her best friends. They spoke on the phone with each other daily, for hours at a time (and yet she never subscribed to call waiting in her lifetime).

The Harmon girls were legendary. They all had strong personalities and weren't afraid to tell you exactly what was on their minds, especially etiquette and protocol. Collectively, the Harmon girls spanned a lifetime of over 100 years (from 1914-2016).
Geraldine was the last of the line that emanated directly from John and Mary Harmon, who despite the tender age and inexperience, had the audacity of faith, to take the bold step to leave the south for social and economic opportunity for their family. And God saw the through it all, and their faith was justified.

Geraldine transitioned from this life on February 2, 2016. She leaves to cherish her memory, three sons, Allan, Marvin Bridget) and Gerald Wilder; her grandchildren Lisa (Bryan) Carter, Lauren (Rashad) Campbell, Alyssa Wilder, Allison Wilder, Doug (Brittany) Wilder, Eboni Wilder, Matthew and Brooklyn Wilder; her great-grandchildren Bryan, Breanne, Dylan, Dani, Nia and Sidney, her many nieces, nephews and a host of friends other relatives and friends.