Mitzi Louise Green Malone

1935 - 2022

Mitzi Louise Green Malone

April 3, 1935 - July 17, 2022

Mitzi Louise Green Malone, 87, of Concord, passed away Sunday, July 17, 2022, at her home in Concord.

Mitzi was an exemplary person, who leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, generosity, and service above self. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, organist, and teacher. She was born April 3, 1935, to Worth Bunyan Green and Katharin Hartsell Green and grew up in Midland. She graduated from Bethel High School where she was valedictorian of her class and went on to study at Queens College. In 1957, she married John Hugh Malone Jr., who was at the time, studying medicine at Duke University. Hugh and Mitzi loved one another immeasurably and were married for 65 years.

Mitzi began studying piano as a young child under the tutelage of Eugenia Brumley. She was a prodigy and assumed the pianist role at Bethel Methodist Church at age 12. She then went on to become an accomplished organist, studying first at East Tennessee State College, then at Birmingham-Southern College, and then for a year at Duke Chapel, under organist, Mildred Hendrix. Mitzi then went on to play the Flentrop organ at First Presbyterian Church in Concord, for 30 years, touching the lives and hearts of many through beautiful and inspiring music. As Mitzi said in 1997 upon her retirement, in an article for the Independent Tribune, playing the organ was her calling â€" "It hasn't been just a job, it's been a religious experience. I can't even begin to put into words how special it has been." As countless people will attest to, listening to Mitzi play the organ and piano was also a spiritual experience. After she retired from playing the organ, she continued to contribute to music at First Presbyterian as a member of the church choir.

In addition to her legacy of inspiring others through her music, Mitzi was a music teacher in the Cabarrus County public elementary schools from 1969 to 1995, adored by students and colleagues as a friend to all. She cherished her role as the mother of two children, Arabella and John; and the grandmother of four grandchildren, whose lives she shaped in immeasurable ways. She was also an incredible cook, who loved sharing her culinary creations with friends and family and left a legacy of treasured recipes. She enjoyed time with family, gardening, taking solace in nature, wildlife, bird watching, walks at the beach, hikes in the mountains, singing, reading, sewing, working puzzles, and playing with her Pomeranian dogs.

Mitzi was an immensely intelligent, giving, loving, welcoming, and positive person. Like Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a person she deeply admired, she believed that "peace begins with a smile," and that "if you judge people, you have no time to love them." Mitzi put these words into action in her daily life. She will always be remembered for what she gave the world, without expecting anything in return.

Mitzi was preceded in death by her parents, Worth and Katharin Green; brother, John Bunyan Green II; and sister, Katharin "Kappy" Green Sides.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. John Hugh Malone Jr.; sister, Margaret Green Oktavec; daughter, Dr. Arabella Malone-Trahey (Dr. Thomas Trahey); son, Dr. John Green Malone (Nancy Hartsell Malone); and grandchildren, Dr. Erin Trahey (Sean Bourelle), Tara Trahey (Dr. Chris Kennedy), Malcolm Malone and Olivia Malone. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.

A musical celebration of her life will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Concord, Saturday, Sept. 17.

The family asks that donations be made in Mitzi's memory to First Presbyterian Church of Concord Music Program or to organizations that she supported including the National Audubon Society; the National Wildlife Federation; the Nature Conservancy; or WDAV Classical Public Radio.

Hartsell Funeral Home

www.hartsellfh.com