Anna T. Christman

Anna “Terri” Christman, 93, of Frederica, passed away in her home December 30, 2025, following a cancer diagnosis in 2024. Born Anna Theresia Johnson in Buffalo, New York to immigrant parents of Sweden and England, she spent over fifteen years inspiring young minds as an elementary art school teacher. Along with her parents, Charles and Eleanor Johnson, she was preceded in death by her brother Richard; her son Keith; her sister Sonja; and her husband of 67 years, Everett.

Anna’s artistic talents blossomed early and continued throughout her life. She graduated from East Aurora High School in 1951 where she joined the art club and was art editor for her class yearbook. She credits a teacher for seeing her talent and pushing her in the right direction. After high school she attended Buffalo State Teacher College part-time while working and living with an aunt. A few years later Anna met an enlisted US Air Force airman, Everett Christman, and they married in 1956. Together they raised two children and over the years lived in New York, Japan, Massachusetts, and finally Delaware. At the age of 43, Anna earned her teaching degree from Delaware State College with recognition in Who’s Who Among Students for 1974-75 and membership in Alpha Kappa MU Honor Society. She became a full-time art teacher for Caesar Rodney School District making her rounds to the different elementary schools every week. She worked tirelessly for her students and outside the classroom, creating artistic displays in schools and in the community, finally retiring in 1990. Throughout her post teacher years, previous students, all grown up, would recognize her out in public and stop to chat. In her free time, Anna loved painting, sketching and photographing people and places, especially Delaware landscapes and wildlife. She and Everett enjoyed dinner parties and other social gatherings with friends, colleagues and new acquaintances. Her passion for the arts and her dedication to caring and advocating for her adult son will forever live on in the hearts of her family and friends. 

Anna is survived by her daughter Kimberly Campbell of NC; her grandsons, Robert and Stephen Campbell of NC; two great-grandchildren, Bradley and Lilly; and siblings, Sue Wilson and Eileen Ballard of Buffalo, NY. We will forever honor the legacy of a courageous, resilient, free-spirited, amusing, beautiful woman and her precious stories growing up in downtown Buffalo.

The family will receive visitors Thursday January 15, 2025 from 3-4pm at Pippin Funeral Home and/or burial service on Friday January 16, 2025 at 1pm at Delaware Veterans Cemetery in Millsboro.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Meals on Wheels Delaware or Special Olympics Delaware.

“Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” – Proverbs 31:31

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