Assembly Resolution No. 865

BY: M. of A. Mosley

MOURNING the death of Theopia Green, distinguished
citizen and devoted member of her community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Theopia Green of Brooklyn, New York, died on Monday,
December 18, 2017, at the age of 95; and

WHEREAS, Born on Christmas Day in 1921, in Raleigh, North Carolina,
Theopia Green was the second of four children born to Henry Ward Beecher
Debnam and Alice Debnam, who anointed her with a name originating from
Coptic Christianity and meaning "Gift of God from Abyssinia;" and

WHEREAS, Following the untimely death of her father, Theopia Green
and her family migrated to Brooklyn, New York, where they settled in a
Sterling Place brownstone in Bedford-Stuyvesant; and

WHEREAS, Theopia was married to the love of her life, Carl Green, in
1942 at the Concord Baptist Church of Christ; the couple shared an
unbreakable bond for more than 50 years as they provided love and
guidance to their sons, Carl and Roger; and

WHEREAS, Theopia Green passionately carried forth her mother's
legacy of church stewardship; she was an active member of the Concord
Baptist Church of Christ, where she served as a Sunday school
instructor, President of the New Lifestyle Fellowship, and President of
The Sisterhood; she was also an engaged member of the World Wide Guild;
and

WHEREAS, With a sincere enthusiasm for active citizenship and civic
engagement, Theopia Green and her husband led local efforts to train,
educate, and identify employment opportunities for Crown Heights youth
through the Model Cities Program in the early 1970s; and

WHEREAS, Theopia Green co-founded the Crown Heights Community
Council and the Progressive Women for Human Rights; she was a delegate
for Jesse Jackson, and the founding member of Women for Congressman
Major Owens; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, she was a devoted member of the National
Council of Negro Women, Brooklyn Chapter; and

WHEREAS, As a staunch advocate of higher education, Theopia Green
served as Treasurer of the Community Council for Medgar Evers College,
CUNY; she also holds the record as the longest-serving member of
Community Board No. 9; and

WHEREAS, Professionally, Theopia Green had a long and accomplished
career with the City of New York Department of Social Services, now

known as the Human Resources Administration, and served on the Greater
New York Health Insurance Program (HIP) Advisory Board; and

WHEREAS, A great public speaker, Theopia Green entertained audiences
small and large with her storytelling acumen; unequivocally passionate
about the arts and culture, she supported the National Museum of African
American History and Culture as a charter member; and

WHEREAS, Theopia Green was an avid supporter of the theatre, often
attending Broadway and Off-Broadway productions; she enjoyed diverse
music genres and loved to dance to Motown and the Philly sound; and

WHEREAS, For nearly 96 years, Theopia Green demonstrated an
unceasing devotion to her faith, family, friends and community; and

WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Theopia Green leaves behind a legacy which will long endure
the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all she
served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Theopia Green, distinguished citizen and devoted
member of her community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Theopia Green.