Priestly Jerome Green Sr.

Obituary Priestly J. Green, Sr., was born on May 1, 1926, in Thomasville, Georgia, to Preston and Annie Greene along with one sibling, Frank Green, who preceded him in death. He received his education in the Thomasville Educational System at Douglass High School. As a youth, he loved traveling coast to coast on the train. He was very proud of how his father worked for the railroad, which allowed him and his mother to travel often. This was groundbreaking due to the time period. Mr. Green, upon graduation joined the Army as an Engineer and was deployed to Japan, where he served his country in World War II. He would often share the good and the bad stories about being in the Army. After leaving the Army due to a leg wound, he settled back down in Thomasville and along with other buddies from childhood, Pete Anderson and RB Sanders all , went to Kentucky State University. He majored in electrical engineering. And would often return to the school’s homecoming .He has been recognized by Omega Psi Phi for his commitment to the University. After school he once again came back to his town of Thomasville, where he met the love of his life, Viola E. Westbrook, who preceded him in death in 1992. Their union produced three children: Priestly Green, Jr., (predeceased, 2022.), Thomas B. Greene of Thomasville, Georgia, and Verona L. Green-Miles of Long Island, New York. While living in his childhood home on Fletcher Street, he began to raise his own family there. He was known from Thomasville to parts of Florida for his art in interior decorating. When presented with the offer of moving to New York to work for New York Telephone Company (now Verizon) by his cousin, Larry Mitchell, he moved his family to New York, with three yearly trips back to Thomasville, Georgia. While employed with New York Telephone Company, he was known for his quick wit and eagerness to learn. He was trained and certified in fiber optics, where he later trained others at his location in Garden City, New York. Upon retiring from the company, his beloved wife, Viola, an educator for the Roosevelt School District, followed suit and retired as well. They enjoyed road trips often. From family trips to Arizona to trips to Niagara Falls, we did it all! While residing in New York, Mr. Green was actively involved in community empowerment. He and his wife, Viola, were members of The Roosevelt Lions Club. As president of the Lions Club, Mr. Green was responsible for several fundraisers for the community. Two of his proudest moments as a member of The Lions Club was fundraising for a set of twin babies, both of whom needed eye surgery. His next accomplishment was turning a vacant lot into a community park. Yes, he was successful with the groundbreaking of St. Francis Street Park. Upon the death of his beloved wife, Viola, he returned to his childhood town of Thomasville. After several years he found love once again and married Carolyn, who preceded him in death. While living here in Thomasville he was always active in the American Legion, where he was the oldest living member. In May of 2022, he was also acknowledged as the oldest living member of his church, Clifford Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, where his father Preston Greene is on the cornerstone as one of the trustees at the building of the church. Yes, he was a loving man, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather. While in New York, he also became a godfather to many. You could often find him on the patio, barbecuing and having heart-to-heart talks. To name a few of those people, Kam and Vincent Steele, Jerry and Stevie Graves, Michael Huff, Bob Jordan, Greg Bigelow, Malcolm Threadgill, Alex Malone, Aubry Weeks, Donna Roberson, and Joanne Peaks. He always had a positive attitude, even while living out his last days under the care of Thomas Greene at home with the assistance of Archibald Hospice Care. Every day you asked him how he was doing, he would always say, “I’m fine.” On Friday, September 23, 2022, he took his sleep with his faith strong as ever in God. He was preceded in death by son, Priestly Green, Jr.; grandson, Stanley “Scooter” R. Miles, Jr. (9-22-2014); brother-in-law, David Lewis; sisters-in-law, Emma Lee Westbrook and Beatrice Murphy; nephews, Lawrence Westbrook, Sonny Johnson, and Sammy Boykins.

He leaves to mourn and honor his legacy of positivity: son, Thomas Greene; daughter and son-in-law, Verona L. Green- Miles and Stanley Miles; daughter-in-law, Glenda Green; granddaughters, Antoinette Michelle Green, Mercedes

Green, and Ava Green; grandsons, Priestly Green III, Bryon Green, and Cameron Green; great-grandchildren, Armoni McCallum, Nevaeh Skinner, Micah Highsmith, Niya Allen, Kailani Stone, Byron Green, Jr., Bonnie Green, Brianna Green, Jahlaya Green, and Desire Green; great-great-granddaughter, Shyla Smith; sister-in-law, Mamie Lewis; nieces, Rhonda Lewis, Mary E. Westbrook, Emma Mitchell, Fannie Johnson; nephews, Glen Lewis and Andre Mitchell; great-nieces, Asia Lewis Ross and family, Ashley Lewis and family, Rosemary Boykins, Sabrina Boykins Everett and husband Moses Everett, Susan Boykins; great-nephews, Jerome (Buster) Everett, Kendall Boykins, Anthony Barnes, and Jefferson Hardaway; brother-in-Christ from Kentucky State University/Thomasville, Pete Anderson (Catherine, Valdez, Haywood, and Colleen Anderson), and Cousin Wila from Queens NY/Quitman, GA.