Carolyn Dianne Green

July 5, 1940 - April 9, 2012

Carolyn Dianne Griffin Green went home to be with her Savior on April 9 following an automobile accident.

Viewing will be 6:00 – 8:00 PM Friday, 4/13/2012 at Hardage-Giddens Hendricks Chapel 4115 Hendricks Ave Jacksonville, Florida 32207.

Funeral service will be 11:00 AM Saturday, 4/14/2012 at Hardage-Giddens Hendricks Chapel 4114 Hendricks Ave Jacksonville, Florida 32207.

Burial services will be 2:00 PM Saturday, 4/14/2012 at Greenlawn Cemetery 4300 Beach Blvd Jacksonville, Florida 32207.

The Reverend Bobby Drury will officiate.

Carolyn is survived by her son Ronald Green and wife Michelle, her daughters Rhonda Fluriach, Nancy Brown, and Trena Knowles and husband Mike, grandchildren Laura Green, Melody Taylor, Kari Green, Taylor Knowles, Katelyn Knowles, Dalton Knowles, Amanda Brown, Alaina Brown, Amy Brown, Angela Brown, and Annaliese Fluriach, great-grandchildren Ella Stovall, Owen Stovall, Sheridan Taylor, Ansley Taylor, Jesse Lee Gilliard, Johnny Castle, Lailena Castle, Logan McGee, brothers Frank Griffin, Fred Griffin, Jimmy Griffin, sister June Pritchard, and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her mother Leola Boos Griffin and father Marion Griffin, her son Michael Green, brothers Marion (Bubba) Griffin, Robert (Bobby) Griffin, William (Billy) Griffin, Donny Griffin, Norman Griffin, Johnny Griffin, and sisters Marguerite Toler, Mary (Toodles) Hadden, and Dorothy (Dot) Drury.

Carolyn was a shining light of the love of Jesus and all who knew her adored her. She will be greatly missed by so many.

From Rhonda Fluriach (Daughter):

Philippians 2:3-5

Don't do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves. And look out for one another's interests, not just for your own. The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had.

‎1 Corinthians Chapter 13

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Anyone who knew my Mom would agree that these verses described her. She lived her life like Jesus, loving, full of grace, always giving of herself to others, kind, respectful and patient. I cherished her. She made a positive impact on everyone around her, from her children and grandchildren to the checkout clerk at the grocery store. I miss her so much. Thank you for being here to help us celebrate her sweet, precious life. I can't wait to see her again in Heaven.

I got my Mother's bible out of her crashed wrecked car - she always carried it with her when she was coming to spend the night at my house, which was often a few times a week. Funny how that bible has been at my house so many times and I never really thumbed through it...until now. She had so many little letters in there to family that she meant for us to read after her passing. She said in the cover page what scriptures she wanted to be read at her funeral and what songs she wanted to be sung. I thumbed through some of the well-marked up pages. Scripture after scripture that talked about heaven was underlined and notated. My Mom was ready to meet Jesus, I just wasn't ready for her to go. She was my best friend. She was the one I called to share all the little thoughts and plans I had. She was the one I called to share the joy of my daughter, all the cute little things Anna would say and do, and no one ever got so much pleasure in those things as much as me and my Mom.

I truly don't know what I will do without her. There is a massive whole in my heart for her. She was love. She was comfort. She was laughter and fun and good times. She was the most humble, giving, loving human being I have ever encountered. I will honor her by trying to live the way she lived, which was like Jesus lived. She knew what was important in this life and what was not. She was every underdog's cheerleader, her love and support never gave up or ran out. I loved sharing a cup of coffee with her and just chatting. Mom was the real deal, she loved Jesus so much, she lived a beautiful Christian life. She had a heart for children, and never was there a child that knew her for 2 minutes that didn't love her.

She and my little Anna had a beautiful connection. They are so much alike in spirit and personality. Mom helped me so much by watching her for me to work the first year after Anna was born, and their deep love and connection for each other began then. I am forever grateful for the nearly 7 years that Anna got to know and be close to her Grandma and to drink in that rich love and heritage from my Mom. She was so incredibly loving and patient with her. I can tell you that I have never once heard my mother raise her voice to a living soul.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self control are what the bible calls the fruits of the God's Spirit. I learned them from seeing them in my Mom. I have so much more to learn from her, I wish she could stay forever to teach me. I loved her so much and miss her so much. I truly don't know what I will do without her. I long to hear my phone ring again and hear her voice, or see her smiling face at my door.

During the last several years of Mom's life her health was deteriorating and she was in a lot of constant pain. She still made time to come over to my house a few days a week to play with Anna after her school so she wouldn't feel lonely and bored while her Mommy was working. Mom would give her last dollar to anyone in need. She got so much pleasure from doing little things for the grand-kids and great-grand-kids. She could take a few dollars into the dollar store and work some magic to make these little children smile for a little while, that gave her enormous pleasure!

My hope and aspiration is to become more and more like her as I age. She was a beautiful example of a Godly loving Mother. I hope I can be to Anna what she was to me. I know she is happy in Heaven and with a new body that won't wear out, but I sure do miss her and long to see her again. I would give anything to make her a Sunday dinner again, or go piddling at Wal-Mart with her, or have her sitting beside me at church. I hope my memories of her will stay crisp in my mind and heart throughout my remaining days here. I miss you Mom so much. I love you. Where there is deep love, there will be deep grief, and I have a deep, deep love for you.

Your daughter, Rhonda

Trena Knowles, Daughter:

There are no words to describe the loss I feel. Momma, you were truly the sweetest person I have known and what a true blessing to be one of the 5 who could call you Momma! I know you are in heaven; you spent your life preparing to meet Jesus face to face. Anyone who knew you, sweet Momma, knew you felt so humbled to serve your Savior! The thing I loved the most about you was your truly humble spirit. You placed no value on the things of this world; your joy came from Jesus and your family. I will miss you so much. I will do what you taught me to do; I will turn to Jesus to face the days ahead. I recall you once telling me, with your big beautiful brown eyes filled with tears, "Trena, there is a difference between praying to God and crying out to God, Jesus will always give those who seek him what they need, when they need it." I fully understand now. I eagerly wait for heaven for yet another reason, to squeeze you again my sweet Momma! It seems the older I get, the reality of heaven gets sweeter and sweeter. So glad this life is not the end for Christians. I can't help but smile when I think of you with Jesus and your sweet son, whom you longed for so, so many years. I miss you and I love you so much, and I will see you again Momma, we are only here for a little while.

Your baby girl,

Trena