Corene Greene

SHELBY - Corene Grigg Greene, 104, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Feb. 2, 2014. Our beloved Mother and Mamaw passed away at her home on Greene Farm Road, surrounded by generations of family and friends. Corene, born Aug. 24, 1909, in Cleveland County, was the daughter of the late George Hillard and Bessie Mae Philbeck Grigg.

She married Albert Walton Greene, her husband of 72 years, on Dec. 22, 1927.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Paul Grigg; and sisters, Ruth Grigg McKee, Dorcas Grigg McKee and Ora Grigg Singleton; one son, Albert Reynolds Greene; and two daughters-in-law, Shirley Spangler Greene and Shirley Fitch Greene.

She was a member of Double Springs Baptist Church where she worked in the nursery for a number of years. Corene raised seven children on the family farm, Greene Farm, now in its 7th generation, where she was an example of the Proverbs 31 wife, the wife of noble character. All her life she rose early, worked diligently with her hands and helped her family prosper. She loved to garden, growing and canning vegetables (lots of vegetables), growing flowers and keeping her herb beds. She also loved to cook and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren never visited her home without having ginger snaps, shortbread cookies or apple pie. There was always something good to eat waiting on her table.

She came through the Great Depression and worked hard all of her life, but we never heard her complain. When asked about their life and marriage during a taped interview by her grandchildren, she smiled and said “we had a good life.” She was always caring for others and had a smile and a laugh for any of her family who visited. She loved life and stayed involved with her family and farm until she could no longer leave her home. In her 90s, at her summer birthday party, she watched her grandsons riding their four wheelers and asked to ride! “I’ve never ridden one,” she said. We helped her on the back, and began a tradition of giving her a ride on a four-wheeler or Gator at each birthday, until she was nearly 100. All of her family freely walked into her home, which was always open, and we will remember opening her door, calling “Mamaw” and hearing a familiar “Whoo-Hoo” to let us know where to find her.

Corene is survived by five sons and daughters-in-law, George Gilbert and Nancy Ellis Greene, Sara Spangler Greene (Albert Reynolds Greene), David Phillip Greene (Shirley Spangler Greene), Bobby Daniel Greene (Shirley Fitch Greene), and Randall Walton and Glenda Weaver Greene, all of Shelby, and Henry Howell and Susan McSwain Greene of Mint Hill. She is also survived by her daughter June Carol Greene Reichle and son-in-law Paul Reichle Jr. of Fayetteville.

Also surviving are eighteen grandchildren and spouses, George and LouAnn Greene, Dwight and Holly Greene, Joey and Phillis Greene White, Danny Greene, Tim and Cindy Greene Cabaniss, Doug and Angie Greene, Derek and Sherrie Greene, Todd and Susan Greene Turner, David Greene and special friend Karen Blaine, Mark and Elizabeth Greene, Scott and Lynn Greene, and Steve Greene and Janet Greene, all of Shelby, J.R. and Nanette Greene Fountain of Fort Mill, S.C., Ed and Carol Reichle Burkett and Paul Reichle III of Fayetteville, Dr. Thomas (Tommy) and Tina Greene of Des Moines, Iowa, and John and Kelly Greene Skinner of Charlotte.

Mamaw is also survived by 32 great-grandchildren and their spouses, and six great-great-grandchildren, Kayla Greene, Matthew and Ashley Greene, Jim Cabaniss, Sara Turner, Mackenzie Greene, Ethan Greene, Tucker Greene, Lexie Greene, Allen White, Andrew and Carmen White, Emma Greene, Caroline Greene, Anne Marie Greene, Hannah Greene, Nathaniel Greene, and Seth Greene, all of Cleveland County, Benjamin Greene and Courtney Greene of Fort Mill, S.C., Eddie Burkett of Durham, Mary (Cabaniss) and Brandon Johnson of Mt. Holly, Timothy Turner and Susan Greene of Raleigh, USMC LCpL Phillip and Ashleigh Greene, USMC Ssgt Jonothan and Danielle Greene (and children Bailey and Sophie), Chelsea Greene and Casey Greene of Wilmington, Phillip and Ninali (Greene) Sanchez of Iowa City, Iowa (and children Phillip Thomas “P.T.”, Isaak, Mateo and Eneli), Kenneth Greene of Hermosa Beach, Calif., Charlie Greene of Boone, and Katie, Morgan and JJ Skinner of Charlotte.

In all, Mamaw is survived by 87 descendents and spouses, plus three children and her husband who preceded her in death, a great blessing and heritage. “Whoo-Hoo” Mamaw until we join you in heaven.

Corene is also survived by four special caregivers and friends, Ruth Huffstetler, Brenda Humphries, Emily Melton and Lisa Yancy. The family was blessed by your love and care.

Visitation: The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Clay Barnette Funeral Home, and other times at her home.

Funeral service: 11 a.m. Wednesday at Double Springs Baptist Church

Officiated by: The Rev. Bill Fryar and Dr. J. Eric Davis

Burial: Following the service, she will be laid to rest beside her husband in the Double Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.

Funeral home: Clay-Barnette Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Memorials: May be made to Hospice of Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Dr., Shelby, NC 28150 or Double Springs Baptist Church, 1130 Double Springs Church Rd., Shelby, NC 28150