Christi Mae (Harjo) Woodard

Christi Mae Harjo Woodard of Oklahoma City passed from this life in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on February 1, 2022, at the age of 52. Christi was born in Wewoka, Oklahoma on April 23, 1968, to Reverend V.V. and Bonnie Mae (Walker) Harjo.  Christi graduated Valedictorian from Bowlegs High School in 1986. Christi continued her education at Seminole Junior College graduating with honors and serving as president of the student government association, and Native American Student Association.   After receiving an Associate of Science degree at SSC, Christi then attended the University of Oklahoma on a Merit Scholar scholarship where she was very active on campus with the American Indian Student Association serving as Miss Indian OU.  While serving as Miss Indian OU, Christi provided educational programs about her tribe such as story circles and the promotion of Native American education and issues.

Christi was a talented musician and began performing with the OU Symphonic Orchestra while still in high school.   Christi graduated with honors from the University of Central Oklahoma attaining a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Christi was very proud of her Seminole heritage (Tusekia Harjo Band and Wind Clan) and served as Seminole Nation Junior Miss and Miss Seminole Nation.

Reverend V.V. and Bonnie Harjo always promoted a Christian lifestyle in their home and always helped anyone in need. Christi was baptized into the Indian Baptist faith by her father V.V. Harjo at Middle Creek Baptist Church in 1979 where he served as pastor. Their children followed suit and Christi was a dynamo at organizing fundraisers and helping to raise money for those in need and school functions.  Christi was one to always step up and help the people she loved.

Christi was a hard worker and often had more than one job at a time to support her family.  Christi was employed at a variety of companies such as the Seminole Nation Health Clinic, Lucky’s Bingo, Riverwind and Thunderbird casinos, and Colonial Life Insurance Company where she served as an agent in upper management. She never missed anyone’s birthday, always making sure that everyone felt special by organizing birthday parties and providing the cake.   Some of her work friends called her the Barefoot Contessa of Oklahoma due to her ability to pull a party together from nothing with class and style. Christi also was a world traveler.  She traveled to Russia, Japan, England, Finland, Canada, Sweden, and all over the US in support of her world-champion sister Cynthia when she participated in arm-wrestling events. She was Sister's biggest fan.

Her greatest joy was supporting her biggest accomplishments in life, her children Reece and Sydney. Christi was active in all her children’s activities serving as a parent sponsor for the little league football and cheer, band, chess club, robotic team, wrestling, and many others.   Christi served as president of the Parent Teachers Committee and was recently chosen as the parent of the month by the Mid-West City Public Schools Parent Teachers Committee.

Christi was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Glen Harjo, Vincent Harjo, sisters Colleen and Brenda. She is survived by her children Reece and Sydney and their father of Oklahoma City, Sisters Cynthia Yerby and husband Monty and Tina Savage and husband Kevin of Wolf, brother Anthony Harjo and wife Lori of Broken Arrow.

A viewing and visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, February 6, 2022, at Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 7, 2022, at Middle Creek #2 Baptist Church in Holdenville, Oklahoma with Reverend Jimmy Anderson officiating. Casket bearers will be Matt Yerby, Josh Yerby, Jaydyn Harjo, Brandon “Bull” Jones, Dominick Mullinax, and Landen Collier. Honorary casket bearers will be Monty Yerby, Howard Owens, Rocky Pruitt, Kevin Savage, James Lewis, and Clyde “Booner” Longman.

Arrangements are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma.