Gertrude Green

February 19, 1933 - March 5, 2022

Gertrude Tappin Green peacefully made her transition from this life to her heavenly home at the age of 89 on March 05, 2022. On February 19, 1933, Gertrude was born to the union of Beamon Tappin and Helen Hatfield in Collinston, Louisiana. Gertrude was the oldest of eleven children. She accepted Jesus Christ as her savior at an early age. She was baptized at the Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Collinston, Louisiana, and remained a faithful servant for Christ until her passing. Gertrude was educated in the Collinston Public School System. After graduating from High School in Collinston, she attended Grambling College, now Grambling State University. While in Grambling, Gertrude majored in Education and became a great teacher. Gertrude has a Master's in Education from the University of Toledo. In 1956 when Gertrude graduated from Grambling, she went back to her hometown and taught in the Oak Ridge School in Oak Ridge, Louisiana. One summer, she and a friend came to Toledo, Ohio, on vacation; there, she met the love of her life, Willie Earl Green. They developed a friendship that led to a happy marriage for 50 plus years until his death in 2010. Gertrude taught at the Ella P. Stewart Elementary School for 25 years in Toledo. She was able to buy the five years she taught in Louisiana, making it possible for her to retire from Toledo Public Schools early with 30 years. After moving to Toledo, Gertrude joined the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, where she has been a faithful member since the early 60s. She was a Deaconess and served on the Board until her death. Gertrude loved her church and supported "all" the ministries in every way she could. She had a special love for the Sunday School, where she once served as Superintendent and was the teacher of the Adult #1 Class for many years. She was a member of the Christian Board of Education and the Matthew Circle. Under the leadership of the late Reverend John H. McKissick, Gertrude was appointed chairperson of the Senior Citizens Project Committee. As committee chair, Gertrude led in the planning process to obtain funds to purchase the land and construct the building of the John H. McKissick Senior Complex. Deaconess Gertrude Green was elected the first President of the Board. After her term was over, she remained on the Board and was a faithful Board Member until her death. The Community Center in the John H. McKissick Senior Complex is named after her, in her honor. Deaconess Gertrude Green was an exceptional woman that showed her love for the Lord through her active love for others. Her dedication to giving back to others touched many lives, locally and throughout the United States. She had an extraordinary passion for helping the youth to get an education by giving scholarships to children at various Churches, Fraternities, and Sororities (especially to members of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority). Deaconess Gertrude Green wrote and published a book in 2002 titled “Stories, Testimonies, and Miracles from around the World” a collection celebrating "Faith," which includes stories from the many people she met while traveling. Gertrude enjoyed traveling; she traveled to all of the continents in the world except Antarctica. Growing up in Collinston, Deaconess Gertrude Green could not go to the parish library because black people could not go to the library; it was for whites only. Now, by the Grace of God, not only was she able to go to the library in Collinston, but her book "Stories, Testimonies, and Miracles from around the world" is in it and is listed as the work of one of the prosperous citizens of Collinston. Deaconess Gertrude Green was a dedicated member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She was a charter member of the Zeta XI Zeta Chapter, Toledo, Ohio. She has received numerous awards, such as The Zeta Phi Beta’s Soror of the Year, President of the McKissick Senior Citizen Board, The Trail Blazer Certificate of Appreciation to Educator and Role Model, and she served as a Building Represented for the Toledo Federation of Teachers Union at Ella P. Stewart Elementary School. Gertrude was preceded in death by her husband, Willie Earl Green, her parents, step-father Andrew Hillard, brothers, Nathanel and Breard Hillard. She leaves to cherish her memory brothers, Zachary Hillard of Collinston, Louisiana, George (Gloria) Hillard of Toledo, Ohio, Clyde Hillard, John (Dyan) Hillard, Eddie Hillard, all of Collinston, Louisiana; sisters, Hattie Hollins, Estella Hillard Brown, and Mary (Charles) Hillard Hobbs, all of Collinston, Louisiana; Goddaughter, Lorraine Shoto of Chicago, Illinois; special Soror, Celina Winfield; nieces, nephews, cousins, sorority sisters, and many friends. Deaconess Gertrude Green was a Christian. She loved her church, Rev. Dr. James H. Willis, and her Church Family. She was a leader who at all times would let you know the Church Motto: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths". Proverbs 3:5-6