Grace Geneva Greene

Grace Geneva Greene was born on September 16, 1930 at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. She is the second oldest of five children born to the union of William Brackett, Sr., and Hallie Rosetta Brackett (Williams).

Childhood - Grace had a childhood that was filled with both personal challenges and supreme love. Her parents died when Grace was a child. After the death of her mother, Grace’s maternal grandparents, who lived in Linden, Alabama, assumed full responsibility for raising Grace and her siblings.

After the death of Grace’s maternal grandparents, Uncle Christopher Columbus Williams, brother of Hallie Rosetta, and his wife, Annie Mae, allowed the responsibility for Grace and her siblings to shift seamlessly to them. The siblings were raised surrounded by love as the grandparents, uncles and aunts all ensured that Grace and her siblings had everything they needed - love, financial and emotional support, and a true sense of “family.”

School Days - In 1949, at age 18, Grace graduated from Linden Academy located in Linden, Alabama. Her diverse interests included basketball, playing the piano, and singing in the school choir as Grace had the voice of an angel. Her talents garnered her both musical and oratorical awards. After graduating high school, Grace began attending college. Those plans were interrupted when a young man by the name of Edward Greene entered her life.

Married Life - At age 19, Grace met the handsome, charming, and debonair Edward Donald Greene (“Eddie”). Four years later, on May 24, 1953, Eddie and Grace were married in Chicago, Illinois. They immediately relocated to San Bernardino, California - where Eddie’s father and older brothers and some of his sisters were residing. Grace and Eddie were the proud parents of five children: Edmund Dale Greene, Wanda Jean Greene, Greta Blanchee Greene (Mixon), Rosetta Ann Greene (Belton) and Travis Dwayne Greene.

The Tragic and Untimely Death of Eddie Donald Greene - Grace and Eddie’s sixteen-year marriage ended abruptly when Eddie was killed on May 20, 1969 after a fatal dispute with his Gulf Gas Station business partner, who cowardly shot him in the back.

After the death of her husband, thirty-eight-year-old Grace was devastated, but soon marshalled her energies and strength and took on the full financial and emotional responsibility of rearing her five young children.

Dorothy’s Maternity Shop and JCPenney’s - After her youngest child, Travis, reached an appropriate age, Grace became employed as a Sales Specialist at Dorothy‘s Maternity Shop. When this business folded under economic pressure, Grace became employed as a Sales Associate at JCPenney’s. During her 9 1/2-year tenure at Penney’s, Grace won every sales award known to man! Grace worked at JCPenney’s until her retirement at age 65 in 1995.

Spiritual Life - Grace accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at an early age. Grace was a faithful member of St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church for most of her adult life having joined the church shortly after her arrival in California. She sang in the Senior Choir, served for several years as its President, was President of the BTU, and Treasurer for the Senior Choir. In 1982, the church featured Grace’s exceptional lyric soprano voice in concert. Grace always encouraged her children to honor and serve the Lord.

Love of Traveling - Traveling was a great love of Grace’s as she traveled to Africa with the National Council of Negro Women, spent extended time in Hawaii with her beloved niece, Arlene Dillard, and traveled to Washington D.C. multiple times with her dear friend and cousin, Annette Overstreet.

Parkinson’s Disease - Approximately four years after retirement, at age 69, Grace was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Never one to complain, she faced this debilitating and degenerative disease with dignity and strength.

Final Transition - Grace enjoyed her final days cared for in the comfort of her own home by her devoted, loving, and skilled caretakers, Angela Johnson, and Liz Robinson, as well as her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was surrounded by love, prayers, and gospel music as she made her final transition in the early morning hours on October 2, 2020.

Grace is survived by her older sister, Hallie Mae King (Brackett) as well as her five children, Edmund, Wanda, Greta (Durrell), Rosetta (Aron) and Travis (Mary). Grace’s sister, Alice, and brothers, William, and his twin, predeceased her.

She will be deeply missed by her grandchildren: Desmund Greene (Edmund) Sigmund Greene (Edmund), Mark Thompson (Wanda), Tasonja Mixon (Greta), Andre Mixon (Greta), Isaac Mixon (Greta), Bryce Belton (Rosie), Brandon Belton (Rosie), Nyah Belton (Rosie) and Kayla Greene (Travis).

Great-Grandchildren: D’Angelo Greene (Desmund), Ivy Greene (Desmund), Maya Greene (Sigmund), Isaiah Mixon (Andre), Jakob Mixon (Isaac), A’Jah Mixon (Andre), Levi Mixon (Isaac) and Zakai Mixon (Andre) live on to cherish her memory along with a host of relatives and friends.