Justine Evelyn Merritt

I met Justine in Niamey, Niger back in 1976. Wonderful and amazing woman. She let us use her hotel shower while we were waiting for visas to get into Nigeria. She even wrote a letter to me in 1977 and even enclosed a poem she had composed about birds (inspired by me I think) which were of great interest to me.

The question was asked, “Who is your Ms. Hart?”—in other words, “what teacher impacted your life?” Ms. Merritt came to my mind and So I googled her and saw she had died in 2009.
She was my English teacher during my years at Unity H.S. in Chicago. She saw something in me and so, I didn’t have to do the majority of assignments my other classmates did. I had to read novels, biographies, etc. and write about them and discuss them with her. She was definitely ahead of her time as far as...

I met Justine in Niger back in 1976. I remember her well. When I had to get a visa for Nigeria in Niamey she allowed me to use her shower A very kind woman. She even wrote me a letter in 1977 and asked how my African experience ha gone. She wrote me a poem about the birds I so adore. I dont think I wrote back but I should have. RIP Justine

I had the great privilege of knowing Justine. We met in the early 1990s at my shop, Quilt Junction, in downtown Grand Junction.

I donated fabric for Justine's International Ribbon Peace project and she gave me a cherished ribbon for my quilt/fiber collection.

Justine's banner was the beginning of The Ribbon. On it she embroidered the names of friends and relatives, loved ones who would be lost in a nuclear war. Her dedication to others and world peace will always be...