Friends, family honor Green for compassion, hard work
BY CHARLOTTE SMITH Editor

The tears and the praise fell equally Monday, as family and friends of the late Frances Green gathered at Philadelphia Blessing to pay tribute to the woman who played a vital role in the food pantry's growth and development.

"We all love her and want to remember her in a place that meant a lot to her, where she helped for many years," said Pastor Jerry Phelps of Tyler Metro Church, which operates Philadelphia Blessing. "We pay honor to the Lord for Frances Green, for her unceasing love, hard work and labor."

Born in Arizona, Frances Knight moved to Troup at an early age and graduated from high school there. After a move to Dallas and a career in banking, she returned to East Texas in 1980.

As a member of Tyler Metro, she and late husband Grady both became involved in the church's food pantry, which had many locations before finding a home in Whitehouse for the past 15 years. Frances is credited with being an early supporter of relocating Philadelphia Blessing to the same city as the church.

"When Frances came here, the big thing I remember is that she got things in ship shape," recalled Pastor Phelps.

Pastor Jerry Phelps of Tyler Metro Church listens as member Bill Johnson (far right) offers his support and condolences to G.W. Green (center) on the loss of his wife, Frances. Below, Mr. Green joins friends and family at a memorial service in his wife's honor at Philadelphia Blessing. Mrs. Green had been an active volunteer at the food pantry.

"She grabbed hold and straightened it out," added friend Bill Johnson. The consensus of those present Monday was that the operation needed a woman's touch, and Frances had the head and the heart to handle it.

"She was an organizer and a go-getter," said Johnson, with current Philadelphia Blessing director Charles Blackmon adding that "she was the best person to work with, and she had compassion for all the people who came in the door."

"Philadelphia Blessing is more than a place to give out food," said Pastor Phelps. "It's a place where a lot of love goes out, and the food just happens to go along with it."

For Frances, love became a part of her time at Philadelphia Blessing in an unexpected way, as she and fellow volunteer G.W. Green would eventually marry.

"It was fun watching you guys," said Tyler Metro youth minister Ray Baldwin. "We saw your friendship grow, and we all wondered if we were looking at something for the future."

Frances and G.W. had both lost their first spouses, and their friends and fellow volunteers supported the relationship.

"A lot of pryaers went up for you," Baldwin told G.W. "You were made perfectly together."

"Those were sad days, and then they were glad days," G.W. said through tears. "I didn't have her for very many years, but they were good years."

G.W. Green's nephew Sherrell Green spoke of Frances as the most "loving and giving person" and said his life was enriched by knowing her. "She became an aunt to me almost immediately," he said. "Usually it takes a while to build a relationship, but she immediately took my wife and I in."