Quietly successful businesswoman was active at her church, Phillis Wheatley
May 6, 1949 — January 15, 2026
Christine Gregory moved to Cleveland with her husband from Louisville, Kentucky in 1968. She was in her early twenties. She joined Second Lakeview Baptist Church in Glenville’s northeast corner and remained a faithful member for more than fifty years.
Christine found an early professional niche in the field of educational administration, working as a financial aid director and consultant for several years. She was closely associated with post-secondary schools and Title VI financial aid programs for more than 40 years.
Capitalizing on her specialized knowledge and training, Christine founded Educational Management Services in 1985, which she ran for several decades before retiring and selling the company. She also owned two career colleges and OHPAK.Y, Inc., a real estate company in Ohio. She was named one of the "Top Ten Women Business Owners in Northeast Ohio" by the Cleveland Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO).
After her retirement, Christine was engaged as an independent contractor by Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools as Consultant/Evaluator for all career and technical schools and colleges in northeast Ohio.
Outside of her work, Christine’s major engagements were with her family, her church, and the Phillis Wheatley Association, where she was a longtime trustee, former president, and committee member of the Jane Edna Hunter Scholarship, whose more than $2 million in assets are administered by College Now of Greater Cleveland for the benefit of college-bound women residing in Ohio and South Carolina.
At Second Lakeview Baptist Church, Christine served as the Director of Christian Education, Scholarship Coordinator, Sunday School Teacher, and delegate to the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. Congress of Christian Education where she received her “Master Teacher" certification. She served on the Mission Board of the Union Missionary Baptist District Association and Finance Director of the Women's Department of the United Missionary Baptist State Convention of Ohio, Inc.
Christine loved to travel with her husband Eddie. During their 61 years of marriage, they ventured to Africa, Cuba, Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Monaco, Rome, the Bahamas, Mexico, Alaska and many cities in the U.S.
Christine also loved attending and coordinating her family’s annual reunions.
Christine was born May 6, 1949 to Monroe and Renza Johnson in Louisville, Kentucky, where she was baptized by the late Rev. CJ. Cunningham at the New Zion Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky. She earned her B.S. degree in business management from Cleveland’s Dyke Business College.
Her commitment to higher education and her desire to help all young men and women realize the importance of a college education led her to volunteer time providing college and early awareness seminars and financial aid workshops for several local organizations and churches, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cleveland and the Cleveland Public Library.
Christine is survived by her husband Eddie of 61 years and four children: Tara Gregory, Eduardo Gregory, and Stacy (Keith) Robinson, all of Louisville, and Ivan Gregory of Saudia Arabia; 14 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild. She is also survived by seven brothers and sisters: Rose Wright (John), Liz Anderson, Chicago, Illinois, Shirley Oldham, Cleveland, Ohio, James Johnson (Rosetta), Louisville; and Thomas Johnson (Betty), also of Louisville, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.
The funeral service will be held at 11:30a on Friday, January 23, 2026, at Second Lakeview Baptist Church, 893 East 123 St. [44108]. Interment will follow at Lakeview Cemetery. Gaines Funeral Home is responsible for arrangements.
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