Edith Green

September 1, 1922 - March 27, 2014

Ruth Edith Green; "Edith" to those who knew her, "Mom" to her children, and "Granny" to her grandchildren. She was born in Mohigans, West Virginia on September 1, 1922 to Maudie and John Barnett. When her mother married Charlie Ratliff, Edith happily took his name also. Together the two families surrounded Edith with two sisters and four brothers.

She graduated from Welch High School of Welch, West Virginia in 1941. She completed some nurses training and aimed for serving in the Army. She did serve in the Women's Army Corp. for one year as a medical technician. After leaving service, she married and took the name of Cooke, and had a son: James. Later she met Clyde Green and married him in 1947. Nine years later a daughter was born: Carolyn. Then her ambition turned to nurturing her children and the keeping of their home. In later years she worked many other jobs, such as a short-order cook and server in a bolling alley snack bar and even as a server at the Lakeland Yacht and Country Club.

Aside from raising her children, her joys in life were gardening and reading. Even after she lost her eyesight, she loved listening to mystery stories on audio books.Keeping up with the news was enjoyable for her too as she listened to local television.

She had attended a Baptist church in West Virginia growing up and was a member there. She continued to take her daughter to a Methodist church in Hurricane for many years. Both were members at that church. After moving to Lakeland, Florida she periodically attended Covenant Presbyterian Church. Over the last few years of her life when she could not go to church, she enjoyed listening to sermons recorded at and provided by Covenant. She always said she loved Dr. McWilliams' voice. She deeply enjoyed hearing him preach God's Word.

At 91 years old, she lived in her beloved home of twenty-five years in Lakeland, Florida. She died of heart failure at Lakeland Regional Medical Center after a long struggle with pneumonia and several other health complications.

Ruth Edith Green is survived by her son James Green and her daughter Carolyn Fullgate (son-in-law Jeffrey Fullgate), as well as 8 grandchildren.

"Jesus said to her,'Iam the resurrection and the life. Whosoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?' She said to him, 'Yes, Lord: I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world'."

-John 11:25-27 (ESV)