Cornelius Green

Cornelius Green was born in Greensville, Florida on November 20, 1929 to Rufus and Marie Tinsley Green. He was the third child out of twelve brothers and sisters. When he was a young child the family moved to Sanford, Florida where he resided until his teen years. Cornelius was always a sincere and loving brother who cared deeply for his siblings, especially his sisters. Later, he moved to Rochester, New York to seek the American Dream and greater opportunities for his family. Although he only had an elementary school education, he taught himself to read, write, and perform basic arithmetic.

Cornelius married Willa Mae Smith in 1951 and had seven children. He was employed by the City of Rochester, ran his own house painting company, and was a gifted handy man. He also greatly enjoyed playing the harmonica, listening to blue grass music, watching old western movies, and attending church. During holidays, it was customary to hold huge family picnics that felt like small family reunions. Cornelius also walked with Martin Luther King Jr. in August 28, 1963 at the March on Washington. He also met Muhammad Ali during a visit to Rochester.

After his divorce to Willa Mae, he later remarried Virginia Bland in the early 1970’s where they remained in Rochester and pastored a church. In 1975, Cornelius retired from the City of Rochester and moved to Montgomery, Alabama where he pastored another church. He found great comfort and strength in reading his bible. Psalms 37 was his favorite verse that he constantly reflected on. In 1980, he returned back to Sanford, Florida where he built his house from the ground up. After the death of his wife Virginia in 2010, he moved to Dallas, TX. Cornelius Green entered into eternal rest in Prosper, Texas on August 12, 2015.

Cornelius is preceded in death by, his parents Rufus and Marie Tinsley; his wife, Virginia; his brothers, Rufus Jr., McKinnley, Jerry, James, and Robert; his sister, Doris; and his son, Terry. Cornelius is survived by, daughters, Arlene Terry, Gloria Wills, and Diana Lowell and husband Daron of Rochester, New York; sons, Cornelius “Corny” Jr. Green and wife Anne of Denver, Colorado, Rickey Green Sr. and wife Mayra of Dallas, Texas, and Richard “Cook” Green and wife Jeanette of Minneapolis, Minnesota; sisters, Susie Cherry L. Demps, Mary Alice Fluitt of Rochester, New York, Marie Outing , and Ida Dawson and husband Theartis of Orlando, Florida; and brother, Henry Green and wife Hilda of Atlanta, Georgia. Cornelius is also survived by twenty-one grandchildren, forty-five great-grandchildren, and eighteen great-great-grandchildren.