Julian Francelle Green

Julian Francelle Posey Green, of Ann Arbor, MI, peacefully passed away at home with her family by her side on Wednesday morning, November 30th, 2011, after a lengthy and courageous battle with breast cancer. She was born Julian Francelle Posey on March 24th, 1942, in Grand Rapids, MI, to Gwendolyn Claytor-Posey and Frank Lamar Jr. She was nurtured, cared for and raised as an only child by her grandfather Emmett Posey, her great-grandmother Margaret Babb Posey, and her Aunt Mae Babb. She was baptized as a Catholic at six weeks of age. She was raised in the Catholic faith and attended Saint Andrews Catholic School. In Grand Rapids, Julian enjoyed such activities as hunting and fishing with her grandfather, playing for the Grand Rapids Chicks baseball team and serving as president of the Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers fan club. Julian was a 1960 graduate of Ottawa Hills High School. She married Lucius Green in 1960. They lived at several Air Force bases throughout the U.S. and abroad before being stationed at Flint, MI in 1971. She developed and maintained lasting relationships throughout their travels. While in Flint, Julian was a devoted member of the former St. Agnes Catholic Parish for more than 20 years, where she worked as a receptionist at the parish rectory, served in the food pantry, and was a staff member at Bible school and day camp during the summer. Julian also served on the Powers Catholic High School Board of Education while her grandchildren attended school there. Julian’s interests included: baseball, football, gardening, fishing, reading, traveling, the creative arts, gardening, genealogy, and soap operas (especially All My Children). She enjoyed tracking her African American, Native American, and Irish heritage as she was the descendant of a Civil War veteran. Julian was all about her family and her faith. One of her greatest joys in life was attending her children and grandchildren’s various academic, athletic, and music events. She continued to support her family after her move to Ann Arbor and participated in several community service activities and was featured in an educational video for the American Cancer Society. Julian was a very loving mother, raising and caring for her children and grandchildren up until the day she left us. She was a people magnet who had a host of friends that she cared and prayed for, including Bernice Owens, Eleanor Etherley, Helen Jackson, Cathy Wenzel, Mary Thomas, Pat and Winnie Coutcher, Jackie Shepp, Katie Granberry, Sallie Brumley, Susan Sterling, and others. Most people knew her as Julian, but family members and close friends knew her as Mama, Mother, and especially Gram as she was called by many staff, students, and parents at Saint Agnes, Saint John Vianney, and Powers Catholic. She wished to stay longer with her friends and family, and lived a vibrant full life but knew that her destiny was in God’s hands. She inspired many people with her vast wisdom, humor, and affable nature while touching the lives of her doctors, nurses, and staff while dealing with her illness. Julian is survived by her daughter, Carmen R. Green, M.D., a physician and tenured professor at the University of Michigan, of Ann Arbor, MI, son Harlon Green, a retired Flint police officer and daughter-in-law Tambala, of Flint, MI, grandchildren Thaddeus, a graduate student at Syracuse University and Ashley Green, a graduate student at the University of Michigan, both of Ann Arbor, MI and Quentin and Terrence Green, of Flint, MI, father Frank Lamar Jr., of Grand Rapids, MI, former daughter-in-law Shamarion Grace, of Flint, MI, and a host of brothers, sisters, other relatives, and friends, Barbara Jamison, Ruth Cross, Lori Schubert and Carol Allen. Julian was preceded in death by mother Gwendolyn, grandfather Emmett, great grandmother Margaret, and aunt Mae. The Green family requests any memorial contributions be made to the Posey Family Scholarship at St. John Vianney Catholic School in Flint, MI.