Family

Mildred Green – Mother of 3 sons and a long-time church secretary and bookkeeper – died Wednesday, January 1, 2025. She was 91.

Born Mildred Esther Harden on March 27, 1933, in Terre Haute, Indiana, Millie was one of twelve children born to Stephen and Vera (Butler) Harden. Millie’s childhood jobs included Soda Jerk in the local pharmacy and selling tickets at the movie theater.  Being raised in a large family in a small town, Millie was still a teenager when she and a childhood friend decided to “see the world.” Their first stop was in San Antonio, Texas. This is where Millie found her true home. After several temporary jobs, she began as a bookkeeper for the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo/ Olmos District. Within a few years, Millie became the office manager. 

Millie met her future husband, Joseph H Green, Jr, in the scouting office. Not long after their wedding, she became a stay-at-home wife and mother as they raised their three sons – Ray, Jesse, and David. During this time, Millie frequently volunteered at the Madison Square Presbyterian Church and was an active PTA member at Jackson-Keller Elementary School. Her legacy was introducing teachers and students to working with puppets. Millie stitched countless puppet characters and taught others how to use them to tell stories and inspire creativity. She even built a free-standing puppet theater for Jackson-Keller.

When her children were old enough, Millie returned to work, this time at the Presbytery del Norte, a regional governing body for the former UPCUSA. As Presbyterian denominations reunited and merged, this took her to Alamo Presbytery PCUS, which eventually became Mission Presbytery PC(USA). She worked in this office for 17 years. Beginning as a secretary/bookkeeper, she held many job titles, including Office Manager. Millie started taking classes offered through the Association of Administrative Personnel to improve her professional skills. Within a few years, APA members elected her president. Millie considered this among her life's highest honors to her final days. 

With the arrival of grandchildren, Millie left San Antonio for Dallas, where she found work as the bookkeeper for Grace Presbytery, PC(USA). Millie enjoyed her six years with this dynamic staff. The work and its requirements were familiar. And the schedule left time to be with her young grandchildren. Millie’s retirement allowed even more time with the growing family, attending Highland Park Presbyterian Church events and “puttering” in the backyard. Millie’s later years found her often pulling weeds from the back lawn or sitting on the back porch enjoying Blue Bell ice cream. 

Millie’s final months were difficult. After a hard fall at home, she moved into the home of her youngest son in Conroe, Texas. Millie hated being confined to bed. But she cherished this time spent with her family. After enjoying Christmas Day, she declared the previous ten days “the best week” of her long life. 

Millie was with her three sons when she passed away on New Year’s Day 2025.

Mildred Esther Harden Green was predeceased by her parents (Stephen and Vera Harden), her ex-husband (Joe Green), and eight siblings. Millie is survived by her sons (Ray and Vickie, Jesse and Margaret, and David and Leigh), seven grandchildren (Tiffany, Charlotte, Molly, Hannah (Giffin), Joshua (Jessica), Daniel, and Matthew), and eight grandchildren (Morgan, Aidan, Klaryssa, Tessa, Henry, Addison, Owen, and Piper), one brother (Harold), and two sisters (Brenda and Nancy).

Millie Green lived well and accomplished much. Never wanting to be the center of attention, Millie found satisfaction and happiness in supporting the work of others. Millie was proud of her family, especially her three sons (two lawyers and a preacher). Looking back on her nearly 92 years, she was satisfied with all the blessings given to her. 

Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, March 28, at 1:30 P.M. in the Highland Park Presbyterian Church’s Wynne Chapel. In place of flowers, please make donations to the Highland Park Presbyterian Church, 3821 University Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75205 (https://hppres.org/give).