Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. Emmett L. Green

On Tuesday, October 24, 2017, the Rev. Dr. Emmett Leroy Green accepted God’s call to come home. At 96 years of age, he faced a steady decline in his health while surrounded by the love, support, and compassion from his family and professional caregivers at home. With his strong faith in and commitment to God, he would sometimes say, “I am not afraid to die. I am satisfied.” God said, “Well done thy Good and Faithful Servant.”

Rev. Dr. Emmett L. Green was born on December 9, 1920 in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was one of five children of the Rev. Emmett Lincoln and Gertrude Thornhill Green. Rev. Green was reared in Sewickley, Pennsylvania where his father was Pastor of the Triumph Baptist Church. Rev. Green received his elementary and high school education there before going on to College and Graduate School. He attended Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia, where he received a B.A. Degree in English and Religion. He entered training for the Ministry at Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Center, Massachusetts, where he received a Master of Divinity Degree. Rev. Green did further study at Pendle Hill and the University of Virginia and received a Doctorate of Divinity Degree from Virginia Seminary and College, now known as Virginia University of Lynchburg. He was selected by the Inter-University Committee on Israel to make a study tour of that country. While in the Holy Land, he attended Hebrew University at Jerusalem.

Rev. Dr. Emmett L. Green was a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He “crossed” at Virginia Union University in 1942. He remained a member of their Zeta Chapter until 2014 when he became a member of Sigma Upsilon Chapter in Lansing, Michigan with his beloved son-in-law Stanley Monroe. Even while ill, Rev. Green always chose his special Omega hat when going out. He would flash a huge smile, raise his arms enthusiastically whenever he and Stanley sang “Omega Dear.”

Rev. Dr. Emmett L. Green served as Pastor of Pleasant Street Baptist Church in Westerly, Rhode Island for four years; First Baptist Church of Lexington, Virginia for five years; Mount Zion Baptist Church in Charlottesville, Virginia for five years; and the First Baptist Church in Roanoke, Virginia for seven years. In September 1966, he became Pastor of Second Baptist Church in Ann Arbor, Michigan where he served with distinction for 34 years until his retirement in the year 2000.

During his 54 years in the Pastorate and Ministry, the Rev. Dr. Emmett L. Green made significant contributions to the life of churches and communities where he served. He enhanced churches both physically and spiritually and inspired the communities by participating on Boards, and working with various agencies. It was his style to minister as a liaison-professional between church and community to impact mutual service for the benefit of both. While in Virginia, Dr. Green served as Religious Educational Institute Instructor for the Baptist Allied Bodies of Virginia and wrote Sunday School lessons for the National Baptist Publishing House, Nashville, Tennessee for 10 years. He was an Instructor and Dean at Virginia Seminary and College in Lynchburg for more than 12 years. Dr. Green was a board member of both state and local councils on Human Relations, the Virginia Society for Crippled Children, the Dialogue Committee of the National Conference of Christians and Jew, the Literary Club of Ministers, and a member of a committee of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Dr. Green was President of the Ministerial Association of Charlottesville, Roanoke and vicinity, and of the Baptist Fellowship of Charlottesville and Chairman of the Social Action Committee of the Interdenominational Ministers Alliance of Roanoke. In addition, he served on national, state, and local levels as a leader in the areas of religion, human relations, and education, for which he has been honored.

In more recent times, the Rev. Dr. Emmett L. Green distinguished himself as Pastor and community leader in Ann Arbor. As then Pastor of Second Baptist Church, in 1980, he moved the congregation from its previous Beakes Street location to the newly erected 850 Red Oak location, which is situated on almost five acres. Guided by and anchored in his unwavering faith in God, Rev. Green led this major and costly project from building design and construction to completion. Due to God’s grace; Rev. Green’s effective administrative and sound financial management skills; coupled with his unique ability and understated way of instilling membership passion, willingness and active participation, this Church Building was debt free at that time. The mortgage was burned in 1995, a mere 15 years later. The contributions he made to this Church were not only marked by the physical foresight provided, or the program of services established, but how he sincerely cared and showed compassion for the congregation, many of whom he blessed as babies, united in marriage, counseled, and inspired to live by faith in Christ. In recognition of his vision, the Emmett L. Green Education wing was built, annexed to this church.

Rev. Dr. Emmett L. Green was a significant presence in this community where he served as Chaplain at the Cassidy Lake Technical School for Boys, Maxey Boys Training School, and the Veterans Administration Hospital. He served as second Vice President of the Board of Directors of the “One Church, One Child”, a foster and adoptive care program for children in this State. He also served as the first President of the Ministerial Alliance of Washtenaw County and was appointed by the Governor of the State of Michigan to the Welfare Board of Washtenaw County for 10 years. More than 40 years ago before Martin Luther King’s birthday was recognized as a National Holiday, Rev. Green organized a city-wide Martin Luther King Memorial march to acknowledge the fallen Civil Rights leader. This March continued annually for several years thereafter. During this same period, Rev. Green and the then Pastor of Webster United Church of Christ in Dexter, Michigan came together by establishing a breakfast on Easter Sunday morning which became a tradition between the two churches as well as an interfaith picnic each year. These activities served to bridge the racial divide and enhance harmony between their congregations. Someone once said, “Rev. Green is such a community icon. He’s a main fixture in the soul of Ann Arbor.”

Rev. Dr. Emmett L. Green was a devoted husband and father. He loved his wife, “Margie” and they often shared a pint of ice cream together, using two spoons as they dipped right out of the carton. As “Daddy”, Rev. Green made waffles on Saturday morning for “Margie and the four Green girls.” He liked his waffles brown, not light, and definitely not hard. As a father, he was firm, but loving. He provided a moral and spiritual compass for his family, a lasting legacy.

He is also remembered for his ability to fix almost anything and make furniture. He liked to repair electrical items (clocks, radios, appliances); put things together and take them apart. He also enjoyed wood carving. As a camp counselor during the summers in Virginia, he showed young boys how to make items out of wood.

Rev. Dr. Emmett L. Green was preceded in death by this beloved wife, Marjorie. He is survived by his four daughters: Cynthia Poindexter, Paula Mitchell-Monroe (Stanley), Alene Cannaday, and Darylin Green. He also leaves to cherish his memory seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a host of relatives and friends. A special acknowledgement and appreciation is extended to his youngest daughter, Darylin Green. As a caregiver and loving daughter, Darylin dedicated all of her time and attention to taking care of Daddy, especially when his health began to fail. Darylin’s unique ability to retain detailed information and her persistence for accuracy proved invaluable and significant when interacting with health care professionals at varying levels and when tending to Daddy’s needs. During the latter weeks of his life, he would often give her two thumbs up and a “thank you”, which made Darylin smile.

Rev. Dr. Emmett L. Green: husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, Minister and Pastor, preacher, teacher, administrator, leader, counselor, crusader, mentor, and friend. He touched the lives of many people throughout the years, in personal and private ways. To know him is to love him, to respect him, and to thank him for all that he has done and for the imprints he leaves behind.

Service times are as follows: Family Hour Thursday, November 02, 2017 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Second Baptist Church 850 Red Oak Rd followed by a Home Going Service beginning at 11:30 a.m., he will be laid to rest in the mausoleum at Washtenong Memorial Park.