HOMER ALBA GREEN

The following bio was taken from page 216 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited And used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield   Cemeteries of Tx

It was November 15, 1912 when the last child was born to the Green family in Grayson County, Texas. They named him Homer Alba, and he grew to be a fine man and father.

Before he was a year old, Homer’s parents, Joel Pickney and Nettie Hickey Green, and seven brothers and sisters moved to Rusk County. They settled northeast of town on a thirty-acre tract which still belongs to Homer. Homer’s father was a watermelon farmer, and he passed this business on to his son.

When Homer was twenty-three, he spotted a young girl of sixteen, Anna Lucille Stokes, at a church social. She was the daughter of Duffie Doyle and Matilda Pinell Stokes. He decided then that she would be his wife. They courted for a while but soon decided to "tie the knot." Homer asked the advice of his older sister, Marnie. Marnie thought he should let Lucille finish school first, but Homer’s reply was that someone might steal her away from him.

On Saturday, October 17, 1936, the two young people eloped. As was customary of most people at that time, they went to town that afternoon. Several obstacles almost stopped the wedding. Homer’s suit was not ready, and Lucille’s mother had numerous chores for her to finish before she could embark on her Saturday outing. Also a preacher was nowhere to be found. Finally in the crowd they spotted Brother Edburt Jamerson, who said he would perform the ceremony. They were married down on the street corner which is now Herrington Apartments.

Upon the arrival of the couple at Lucille’s house, her parents were pretty upset. Lucille said her mother cried for days, but the young couple started that day what was to be a long, good life together.

Homer and Lucille raised six children, four boys and two girls; Joe Melvin, Arthur Alvin, Alba Doyle, Don Kelvin, Kay Nell, and Belinda.

Homer raised watermelons all his life and was well known all over the United States for his good quality of melons.

The couple’s oldest son, Joe, married Laura Castleberry and had two daughters, Angela Jo and Sonja Dee. By his second wife, Barbara Moore, he has one daughter, Holli Ulaine. Joe still resides in Rusk County and operates a convenience store on Highway 43, a location which was owned by his father when Joe was small.

Alvin, the second son, married Alice Ann Flanagan and raised two children, Margaret Ann and John Gregory. Alvin followed in his father’s footsteps and also raised watermelons with his two other brothers, Doyle and Don.

Doyle married Kay Knox and had one daughter, Ida Gretchen. By his second wife, Sally Flanagan, he has one daughter, Stacey Dionne. They reside in Rusk County.

Don, the last son, married Rebecca Leath, and they have one son, Marcus Jeffery. Don farms and Rebecca operates her own beauty salon.

Kay, the oldest daughter, married Bill Sanders. No children were born to this marriage. She later married Mack Pool, and they have a daughter, Kristi Shay, and a son, Jace Matthew. The Pools are residents of Henderson, where they are owners of a trucking company.

Belinda, the youngest daughter, married John Garrison, and at this date the couple have no children. Belinda is a housewife and John is employed by General Telephone Company.

All of the children and grandchildren have enjoyed wonderful times in the home of their parents and grandparents, Mamma Green and Papa Green, as they are so fondly called. Homer and Lucille provided a fine home full of love for their six children. They have been married forty-five years and hope to spend many more years together.

Submitted by Kay Green Pool