Lois Crenshaw

Lois Crenshaw a long-term survivor, advocate, peer leader of HIV recently died on September 30, 2021. 

Lois was diagnosed with AIDS in 1993 from the result of being raped at age of 55. Lois was the mother of eight children and a former police officer. She immediately decided to take her power back by deciding that she was going to beat this disease or die trying.

Lois passion in getting the word out about HIV was unlimited. Lois was a part of MAP (Minnesota AIDS Project) Speakers Bureau where she spoke at schools, churches, and the Red Ribbon Ride about the transmission and living with HIV. She told folks that you could not look at people and tell if they had the virus. Then she would tell them that, “I’m HIV positive” which created a dialogue. Lois was very open about her status. She was featured in the The Body magazine in 2013. Lois goal was to give others and their families hope, support and representation.

Being one of the pioneers and advocate for women living in Minnesota with HIV. Lois served on many HIV boards and committees to represent women living with HIV: CAB (Community Advisory Board), ACTU (AIDS Clinical Trials Unit), MAC, Open Arms Board, HEROS, MN Statewide Commissioner Task Force, Patient Panel, and the AIDS Ministry of the Catholic Church.

Lois spearheaded two women’s support groups-Sister Healings Sister through the AIDS Ministry in the Catholic Church, followed by the OWWL (Older Women Wise Ladies). Newly diagnosed women that were struggling with their diagnosis were often referred to Lois from the AIDSLine, Infectious Disease clinics, and case managers in the twin city area.  She met and talked with women over a 28-year-span while living with AIDS. Women were suffering from the same issues isolation, stigma, depression that men were and to add they were care givers meanwhile, no programing or funding were being provided. 

Lois was a peer navigator prior to this becoming a paid position. She was never paid, nor did she receive any funding for her work in the community. That didn’t change a thing; it just made her work harder. She used her own limited funds from Social Security to help others struggling with HIV. There still is no cure for AIDS and insurance companies aren’t covering people with a HIV or AIDS diagnosis. 

The Crenshaw Family is raising funds for Lois Crenshaw’s funeral cost. Our family would like to provide a home going celebration to a woman that dedicated her life to a cause that was forces upon her which has been stigmatized since the beginning. We would also like recognition of her works by creating the OWWL Foundation in her memory and honor which would support women living with HIV. Hence, on behalf of the Crenshaw Family we are asking for your financial support. 


Thank you in advance for your donations.