Mr. Astead Joseph Green

Uncle Joe

Astead Joseph Green was born on May 21, 1930, the seventh of nine

children born to Cegert Matilda Thomas. Two children died in infancy,

leaving Pearl, Son (Benjamin), Dougal and Buster (Charles) as Alverangas,

and Daphne, Joe and Doris as Greens. Joe Green chose to go by his father’s

name (also Joe Green) because he thought Astead was too unusual to

be remembered. Born in Cuba, Joe was raised in Jamaica by his mother,

Gertrude Thomas, his paternal grandmother, Janie Stennet, and his older

siblings, particularly Pearl. After Pearl was hired to work and live in

Cleveland, Ohio, she sponsored Joe to join her. Joe’s mother and five out of

six remaining siblings eventually moved to Cleveland as well.

Joe Green was drafted into the United States Army in 1959 and served for

two years in Germany as a medic and nursing assistant. It was there that

he became interested in the medical profession. After an additional year of

service in the Army Reserves, Joe enrolled in and graduated from nursing

school and began practicing as a Registered Nurse. He cared for patients

at Woodruff Psychiatric Hospital where he met Mary and the Veterans

Administration Hospital for over 25 years before retiring.

Joe always remained close to his family, sharing a home with Pearl for

most of his adult life. He actively raised his nieces and nephews, providing

guidance and occasional spankings when needed. “Uncle Joe” was always

interested in the children’s school performance, designing spelling contests

to encourage academic skills. He was passionate about fishing, going to

the casino and gardening - spending long hours caring for his rose bushes,

numerous floral collections and his vegetable garden. Joe and his brother

Dougal shared a devotion to the New York Yankees. According to an

interview with his grandniece, his favorite holiday was Christmas because

“everyone seemed happy and there was always lots of food.” In his later life,

Joe became an active member of the Glenville Present Truth Seventh Day

Adventist Church.

In his passing, Joe will be deeply missed and very fondly remembered for

his warm smile, quick wit and kind heart. Joe Green is survived by his

longtime companion Mary Hall, his sisters, Daphne Shelton and Cindy

Hanson, his son Danny Green, and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces,

grandnephews and loving friends.