MELBA L. GREEN

1923 - 2018

GREEN, Melba L. Of Roxbury, MA passed away peacefully on Monday, July 9, 2018. She was born on May 18, 1923, in Camden, Alabama; the only daughter of Katie Bell and Louie Craig. She had just celebrated her 95th birthday.

She graduated from Camden Academy on May 23, 1941. A year after graduation, she met and married her late husband of 76 years, Randolph E. Green in 1942. They moved to Tuskegee where he was stationed in the 9th Calvary. Upon his discharge, they moved to West Newton, then the South End and finally in 1950 purchased their home on Woodbine Street in Roxbury. They were blessed with eleven children.

Her mother, who died at age 28, was chronically ill and incapacitated as well as bedridden. Melba was ten. This served as the catalyst to pursue a career in the medical field. The dream of that career was delayed by marriage and children. However, while still raising her children, at age 42, she took employment as an operating technician at Beth Israel Hospital. She then became a nursing assistant at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Jamaica Plain. While there she enrolled in a nursing program at Girls' Trade. With the help of family and friends who assisted in caring for the children, she was able to devote herself to her studies. Taking the LPN exam, she passed on the first try. As an LPN, she continued to work at the VA overseeing group sessions in the Psychiatry Department especially for young Vietnam veterans. She also instituted the Community Adjustment for Veterans Group. She retired in 1985 at 62.

Her niece had suggested that she get a master's degree and in casually mentioning her idea to the family physician, Dr. A. P. Bloomenthal (who delivered all eleven children), he told her she could do it. She applied to Antioch College (now Cambridge College) and was accepted. At 57, she earned a M.Ed. One of her joys was to see one of her great granddaughter's graduate from Cambridge College with a M.Ed in 2016.

Again, returning right back to work for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a Mental Health Coordinator/Nurse, she opened the Parker Street West Shelter on the grounds of the Shattuck Hospital. In 1996 she retired at 73.

She was also a world class traveler to Senegal, West Africa, Cairo, Israel, Brazil, Switzerland, Iceland and France. The Great Wall of China was on her to do list. She took time to learn how to swim at 44.

Melba joined and attended Concord Baptist Church from 1945 to 1977. On April 19, 1977, she became a member of Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury. She was a member of the Chapel and Senior chorus and was blessed with a soprano voice that could sing opera. She loved music and the energy the musicians and choirs bring to the worship service. She will be sorely missed.

She is survived by her sister, Elizabeth Rogers of Florida, brothers Louie Craig, Jr. (deceased) and Ronald B. (Craig) Shaheed of North Carolina. Her children: Helen Morissette, Randolph, Jr., Ray Ferrill (deceased), Dolly, Michael (deceased), Edward (deceased), Sherrill Goms, Elizabeth, Craig, Jonathan (Deke), and Kimberly Stubbs. There are 24 grandchildren, 23 great, 19 great-great and five great-great-great grandchildren.

Reflecting on her life she said, "Even though I entered the workforce later in life than the norm, I have had a very successful career in the field of medicine, fulfilling my childhood dream."

Memorial will be held on Saturday, July 28, 2018 at Noon at the Twelfth Baptist Church, 160 Warren St., Roxbury, MA. Visiting Hour 11 a.m.-Noon.