Claire
"Sheri" Barden (March 11, 1934 - May 16, 2023) met Lois Johnson, in 1964 and they were married on March 27, 2008. Partner Lois Johnson
Queer Places:
156 Warren Ave, Boston, MA 02116
Mount Auburn Cemetery
Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA
Claire
"Sheri" Barden (March 11, 1934 - May 16, 2023) met Lois Johnson, in 1964 and they were married on March 27, 2008.
Claire Barden was born March 11, 1934, in Tewksbury, MA. She grew up in Framingham, the adopted daughter of Ruth and Lowell Barden. At age 18, she joined the Army and served in Germany and France. When she returned to the States, she settled in the Boston area and soon met the love of her life, Lois Johnson. They were together for 56 years, until Lois's death in 2020. Claire and Lois were a strong force in the gay and lesbian rights movement. For many years they were active in the Boston chapter of Daughters of Bilitis (DOB) which, in the 1970s, was the only nationwide lesbian organization. They were also active in the LGBT Aging Project and had starring roles in Stu Maddux's film Gen Silent. A resident of the South End for over 40 years, Claire ran a successful professional picture framing business from her home. Her work was museum archival quality, and her clients included Julia Child. She later opened a B&B in the front room of their brownstone on Warren Avenue. Claire and Lois were also very involved in the creation and maintenance of the James Hayes Park next to their home.
Barden died, May 16, 2023, at her home in Jamaica Plain, MA, following a battle with cancer. After a small Graveside Service, Claire was laid to rest in Mount Auburn Cemetery next to her beloved Lois.
My published books:
