Mary Esther Green

Sunrise: July 4, 1951 - Sunset: August 14, 2024

On Wednesday, August 14th 2024, at 12:16pm in Advent Health - Orlando, the miracle that was Mary Esther Green finished her race. For many years she pressed toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)

On Wednesday, July 4th, 1951, in Ayden, North Carolina, Clara Mable May and Luther James Harp introduced the world to the firework that was Mary Esther. Although Mary Esther was the couple's second born child of eleven, she always made provisions for her siblings as if they were her children. She made sure they were proficient in their studies.

At a very young age, around 1961, Mary Esther and her oldest brother David Earl were relocated to Farmville, North Carolina to live with their maternal grandparents, David and Esther May. It was there that Mary Esther learned about farm life, world-class cooking, sewing, serving in the church, and developed her impeccable work ethic. Whenever her siblings would visit she would always make sure they joined her, and Granny, in Sunday school at Waterside Baptist Church. Her tomboy inclination made it impossible to keep her Sunday's best tidy, which kept her in hot water with Granny.

While in North Carolina, Mary Esther attended East Green Elementary school and graduated from South Green High School, class of '69.

In 1969, Mary Esther moved back to New York and lived on Tiffany Street in the Bronx. Her first job in New York was with the Federal Reserve Bank in Manhattan. Every pay day she would go to the record store to buy the latest hits. She would study the songs so intently that when she would sing around the house those that heard mistook her voice for the recording. She loved music, singing, and dancing. She played piano and sang in several gospel choirs and groups.

During the Vietnam War, being the kind-hearted, care-giving person that she was, Mary Esther began sending letters to Vietnam to support her big brother David's friend, KD Green of Snowhill, North Carolina. This was an act of kindness that drastically altered the trajectory of Mary Esther's life.

In 1972 Mary Esther gave birth to her first child Kenita Denise Green. Three years later in 1975, she birthed her second child, Tammy Yvette Green. The married, mother of two worked diligently to support her immediate and extended family.

In 1979, Mary Esther went on to work in Manhattan as a trunk assigner for Bell Atlantic, which became Nynex, and eventually known as Verizon. During her time at the telephone company Mary Esther furthered her education by taking courses at Queens College and York College in Queens, NY. She embarked on several continuing education courses which yielded a multitude of certificates ranging from computers to teaching. She also engaged her entrepreneurial self-efficacy by selling homemade lunches and dinners, creating and selling money trees and corsages.

Mary Esther spent many years as a Verizon employee, amassing a menagerie of dear friends and lasting connections before she retired in 2002.

Mary Esther attended several churches in Queens, New York. She attended Maranatha Baptist Church under Reverend Charles W. Mixon, and later joined St. Albans Baptist Church under Reverend Curtis T. Harding. Mary Esther joined Doers of the Word Christian Center under the leadership of Pastor John Alan Fisher where she became an ordained Pastor. Mary Esther's love for God, music, and family led to the start of Abundant Life Ministries. Mary Esther pastored Abundant Life Ministries until she relocated to Winter Garden, FL in July 2005.

Although Mary Esther didn't procure a physical location in Florida for Abundant Life Ministries she continued to teach, preach, and offer prayers through social media platforms. She joined the choir at New Destiny Christian Center under the late Dr. Zachary Tims. She was a member of Victory Through Grace under Pastor Michael Burgess. She joined Open Door Ministries under Pastor Gregory Clayton. During COVID, she attended live-streaming services from multiple pastors such as John Gray, Travis Greene, Jonathan "YPJ" Miller, and Dr. Dharius Daniels. Everywhere Mary Esther went, she made meaningful connections that transcended over the years.

Mary Esther, aka "Hotshot", was very competitive in sports. In New York she played in a women's softball league where she gained the reputation of being a "heavy-hitter." In Orlando she joined a Christian bowling league where she was no stranger to strikes. She had many nicknames, like "Bluto", denoting her strength. Mary Esther loved life, travel, being active, good food, good company, family, friends, animals, and above all God the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Mary Esther is survived by her husband, KD, her daughters Kenita Denise Green, and Tammy Yvette Green, her fur-babies Jazmyn and Kharma, her brothers Johnny Ray and Alvin Harp, her sister Clara Harp-Johnson, and a host of cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews, honorary family members, and friends from across the country and around the world. She will be remembered along with her late brothers David, Luther, Aaron, Curtis Anthony, Julius, Jeffrey, and Timothy.

Mother Mary, Hotshot, Bluto, Pastor, Mary Esther Green, a light that cannot be extinguished.

A visitation for Mary will be held Saturday, August 31, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Woodlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, FL 34734. A celebration of life service will occur Saturday, August 31, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, FL 34734. An interment will occur Saturday, August 31, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Rd, Gotha, FL 34734. A repast will occur Saturday, August 31, 2024 from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, FL 34734.