Willie James Green was the fourth child born to the late James Green and the late Artley Dansby Green on September 18, 1941 in Hogansville (Troup County) Georgia. He peacefully departed this life on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at Emory-Midtown Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia after a brief illness with lung cancer. He was preceded in death by the recent passing of his wife, Lillie Mae Russell Green and his son, Sanchez A. “Derrick” Green. Three of his siblings preceded him in death Morris, Ronald and Janie Ruth.
Willie joined the Saint Paul AME Church at an early age; he was a 1959 graduate of the West End High School, Hogansville, Georgia. After graduation he was employed with Uniroyal of Hogansville and then The State of Georgia-Surplus Property Division until he was drafted into the United States Army. After serving his country for two years he decided to leave the military and received an honorable discharge.
In 1965, while still in the military, Willie married his high school sweetheart, Lillie Mae Russell from LaGrange, Georgia and moved her to Hogansville, Georgia; to this union three sons were born: Rick, Derrick and Tony (as they were called). Willie later relocated his family to Decatur, Georgia where he purchased a beautiful home and they would open their doors to anyone who needed a place to stay. Their home was aptly called, “The House ByThe Side of The Road”.
In 1979, while employed with the American Can Company, Willie (along with his family) was selected to be featured on the ABC-TV “Good Morning America” Show. This special Thanksgiving program, which aired Thanksgiving morning, included a segment on families that was representative of how Americans live and work in different parts of the country. He was taped while shopping in the grocery store, on the job, at home with his family and singing with his sisters in their Gospel Group, The Green Sisters.
Willie was a born comedian who could make you laugh at anything. He could talk about you to your face and still make you laugh at yourself; he never minced his words. He said what he meant and did what he said he would do – by any means necessary. He and his brother Thomas (Lil Bro.) had an inseparable bond that has endured the test of time. They were comedy partners and best friends.
Willie enjoyed having fun with his family and friends. He had a unique deep bass voice and loved listening to gospel quartet singing. He loved to play pool and had a billiard room in his home where he hosted many parties. He enjoyed sports, especially basketball and enjoyed playing basketball with his sons when they were young and he also played basketball while in high school. He was always striving to be number one in everything he did – that was just his way! His favorite words were “I don’t do it like that.” He was an extremely proud, independent, strong “Black” man and remained so until the end.
SURVIVORS INCLUDE:TWO SONS-Richard (Deborah) Green, Ellenwood, GA, and Ontony Green, Decatur, GA. TWO GRANDCHILDREN-D’Aundrea Green and Quinton Green, Ellenwood, GA. THREE BROTHERS-Horace (Beatrice) Green, Decatur, GA; Thomas (Martha) Green, Fairburn, GA and Ronnie (Sandra) Drummond, Riverdale, GA. ONE ADOPTED BROTHER-Larry Barnes, Augusta, GA. SIX SISTERS-O’Berian Geter, Hogansville, GA; Patricia Culberson, Atlanta, GA; Roenell (Rev. John) West, Riverdale, GA; Gale (Clarence) Romans, College Park, GA; Sharon (Rev. Charlie F.) Stembridge, Fairburn, GA and Sandra (Larry) Smith, Atlanta, GA. THREE SISTERS-IN-LAW-Mary Jean Washington, Fairburn, GA; Wanda Smith, Ellenwood, GA and Brenda Smith, Ellenwood, GA. THREE BROTHERS-IN-LAW-Leon Russell, Decatur, GA; Robert Smith, Ellenwood, GA and Kenny Smith, Ellenwood, GA. ONE AUNT-Connie Dansby, Hogansville, GA. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends