Green Arthur Blocker

Green Arthur Blocker LUBBOCK-Rev. Green Arthur Blocker, Sr. passed away on April 17, 2014. He was born Sept. 24, 1927, as one of eight children to parents Rev. Riley M. Blocker and Lydia (Bennett) Blocker. Green left home as a teenager to work in the U.S. Merchant Marines and spoke with pride regarding his time spent with this organization. He often commented on how it enabled him to travel to many foreign ports and see the world at a young age. Green eventually joined the U.S. Military where he served honorably for terms in both the U.S. Army and Air Force between 1946 and 1955. During his years as an enlisted man he served in various capacities including as a military policeman. Green accepted his calling to the ministry in 1971 and was ordained on May 11, 1973, under the auspices of the late Rev. J.E. James, Pastor of Pleasant Bethany Baptist Church in Elgin, Texas. During his forty-plus years of ministry, Rev. G. A. Blocker, Sr. pastored churches throughout Central Texas in towns that included Hearne, Carmine, Burton, and Paige. During the mid-1980's, Rev. Blocker relocated to the Lubbock, Texas, metropolitan area where he continued to pastor churches in West Texas communities such as Crosbyton and Earth until his pastoral retirement. On Sept. 5, 1987, he married the late Jessie M. (Collins) Blocker of Lubbock, and they remained united until her passing on Dec. 5, 2007. Rev. G.A. Blocker, Sr. was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Riley M. Blocker and Lydia (Bennett) Blocker; his brothers, Riley, Marvin, and Nelson Blocker, all of Houston; his sisters, Mabris Rucker and Lillian Blocker, both of San Antonio; and his wife, Jessie M. (Collins) Blocker of Lubbock. Left to celebrate his life are his sisters, Vina Ella Mack (Oliver O.W.), and Naomi McKnight (James); his sons, Rev. G.A. Blocker, Jr. (Rachel), and Byron C. Blocker (Karen); four grandchildren, Beverly (Blocker) Barnes (Korean K.B.) and Christopher Blocker, Alexander Blocker and Danielle Blocker; three great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; a host of extended grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a multitude of other relatives and friends. Celebration of life services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2014, at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church. Interment will follow at City of Lubbock Cemetery under the direction of Griffin Mortuary. Visitation will be held today, from 1 to 6 p.m. at Griffin Mortuary.