"Well Done Servant, Well Done!"
Mother Mary L. Greene was born February 14, 1922 in Grifton, North Carolina. She attended Elementary School in Grifton, North Carolina and graduated from Adkin High School in Kinston, North Carolina in the year of 1938.
At the age of nine years old, Mother joined the Grifton Chapel Free Will Baptist Church and was baptized by Bishop W.L. Jones. This began her life of church work and service. Mother’s Grandfather who was an Overseer in the Methodist church readily recognized her abilities told her, “You are a special kind of girl.” And Mother’s life has been reflective of how special she is. Mother’s first job was passing out fans. She later served on the usher board and sang in the choir. During her teenage years she moved to Kinston and joined St. John Free Will Baptist Church where she continued a life of church service.
After graduation, Mother Greene worked at the Caswell Cafeteria for two years and then moved to Baltimore Maryland to find a better job. She later moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After returning to Kinston, Mother began working for the Kinston City Schools at J.H. Sampson where she worked in various capacities and later became the Secretary. It was during this time that Mother met the love of her life, Fred Lee Greene whom she was married to for over 50 years until his demise.
Upon returning to Kinston, Mother also returned to her church work at St. John Free Will Baptist Church. While attending St. John, Mother organized and led the Junior Church, served as a member of the choir, secretary of the Usher Board, Church Treasurer, member of the Home and Foreign Mission, and President of the Y.P.C.L.
Mother loved serving her church and she loved learning. Therefore she returned to school and attended Berean Business College where she became certified in Business Education. She later attended Shaw University and received her B.S. in Elementary Education and received a Masters Degree in Library Science from North Carolina Central. Mother did further studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Atlantic Christian College, Wilson, NC; and East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. After receiving her degrees, Mother served as a Classroom Teacher, Librarian, and Assistant Principal. Mother worked in the Kinston City Schools for 34 years until retirement.
Mother was also a very active participant in her community. She was a member of the Shaw Alumni Club, North Carolina Retired Teachers, Treasures of the LCC Crocheting Club, Chaplain of the Lenoir County Retired Teachers Association, Member of the Greater Kinston Credit Union, Lifetime Member of the NAACP, Member of the Kinston Ministerial Alliance, Member of the Board of Directors for the Children’s Village Academy, Hospital Ministry, Nursing Home Ministry and Feeding at the Homeless Shelter.
Mother had a hunger for knowledge but she also had a hunger for God. The bible says, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” The Lord began to fill that hunger when she heard Elder C.D. McNeil preach a powerful, anointed message in revival at New Birth United Holiness Church. Mother said they had such a time that night in the service that they stopped and danced on the side of the road. It was that anointing that was upon Elder C.D. McNeil’s life that caused Mother to become one of the first chartered members of the Revival Center COGIC. Mother is now the only living chartered member.
Mother served faithfully with her Pastor, Elder C.D. McNeil and with the Women’s Department under the leadership of Mother Estella McEwen as her personal aide/secretary. Supt. C.D. McNeil recognized the leadership skills of Mother Greene and appointed her District Missionary of the Kinston District. Later, the late Mother Johnnie Mae McCants appointed Mother Greene State President of the District Missionary and to the Advisory Board of the Women’s Department of Greater North Carolina Jurisdiction. Mother continued to work and her faithfulness was recognized by Bishop LeRoy Jackson Woolard in 1992 when he asked her to serve as the Jurisdictional Supervisor of Greater North Carolina Jurisdiction. Mother’s love for the saints and the work of the Lord was further recognized by our General Supervisor, Mother Willie Mae Rivers, in 1995 when she was appointed to the Advisory Board for the National Women’s Department. Due to declining health, Mother Mary L. Greene was emeritized as Jurisdictional Supervisor of Greater North Carolina during the Holy Convocation in 2012 by our Jurisdictional Prelate, Bishop LeRoy Jackson Woolard. Mother Greene served as Jurisdictional Supervisor for 20 years. Mother departed this life on June 5, 2014. We salute a soldier who has fought a good fight and kept the faith,we know she is in heaven enjoying sweet rest from her labor.
At the age of nine years old, Mother joined the Grifton Chapel Free Will Baptist Church and was baptized by Bishop W.L. Jones. This began her life of church work and service. Mother’s Grandfather who was an Overseer in the Methodist church readily recognized her abilities told her, “You are a special kind of girl.” And Mother’s life has been reflective of how special she is. Mother’s first job was passing out fans. She later served on the usher board and sang in the choir. During her teenage years she moved to Kinston and joined St. John Free Will Baptist Church where she continued a life of church service.
After graduation, Mother Greene worked at the Caswell Cafeteria for two years and then moved to Baltimore Maryland to find a better job. She later moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After returning to Kinston, Mother began working for the Kinston City Schools at J.H. Sampson where she worked in various capacities and later became the Secretary. It was during this time that Mother met the love of her life, Fred Lee Greene whom she was married to for over 50 years until his demise.
Upon returning to Kinston, Mother also returned to her church work at St. John Free Will Baptist Church. While attending St. John, Mother organized and led the Junior Church, served as a member of the choir, secretary of the Usher Board, Church Treasurer, member of the Home and Foreign Mission, and President of the Y.P.C.L.
Mother loved serving her church and she loved learning. Therefore she returned to school and attended Berean Business College where she became certified in Business Education. She later attended Shaw University and received her B.S. in Elementary Education and received a Masters Degree in Library Science from North Carolina Central. Mother did further studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Atlantic Christian College, Wilson, NC; and East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. After receiving her degrees, Mother served as a Classroom Teacher, Librarian, and Assistant Principal. Mother worked in the Kinston City Schools for 34 years until retirement.
Mother was also a very active participant in her community. She was a member of the Shaw Alumni Club, North Carolina Retired Teachers, Treasures of the LCC Crocheting Club, Chaplain of the Lenoir County Retired Teachers Association, Member of the Greater Kinston Credit Union, Lifetime Member of the NAACP, Member of the Kinston Ministerial Alliance, Member of the Board of Directors for the Children’s Village Academy, Hospital Ministry, Nursing Home Ministry and Feeding at the Homeless Shelter.
Mother had a hunger for knowledge but she also had a hunger for God. The bible says, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” The Lord began to fill that hunger when she heard Elder C.D. McNeil preach a powerful, anointed message in revival at New Birth United Holiness Church. Mother said they had such a time that night in the service that they stopped and danced on the side of the road. It was that anointing that was upon Elder C.D. McNeil’s life that caused Mother to become one of the first chartered members of the Revival Center COGIC. Mother is now the only living chartered member.
Mother served faithfully with her Pastor, Elder C.D. McNeil and with the Women’s Department under the leadership of Mother Estella McEwen as her personal aide/secretary. Supt. C.D. McNeil recognized the leadership skills of Mother Greene and appointed her District Missionary of the Kinston District. Later, the late Mother Johnnie Mae McCants appointed Mother Greene State President of the District Missionary and to the Advisory Board of the Women’s Department of Greater North Carolina Jurisdiction. Mother continued to work and her faithfulness was recognized by Bishop LeRoy Jackson Woolard in 1992 when he asked her to serve as the Jurisdictional Supervisor of Greater North Carolina Jurisdiction. Mother’s love for the saints and the work of the Lord was further recognized by our General Supervisor, Mother Willie Mae Rivers, in 1995 when she was appointed to the Advisory Board for the National Women’s Department. Due to declining health, Mother Mary L. Greene was emeritized as Jurisdictional Supervisor of Greater North Carolina during the Holy Convocation in 2012 by our Jurisdictional Prelate, Bishop LeRoy Jackson Woolard. Mother Greene served as Jurisdictional Supervisor for 20 years. Mother departed this life on June 5, 2014. We salute a soldier who has fought a good fight and kept the faith,we know she is in heaven enjoying sweet rest from her labor.
