Evelyn Smith Green, 95, native and lifelong resident of Palatka, peacefully entered the sunset of life on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at Haven Hospice Roberts Care Center, Palatka. The daughter of Moses and Shirley (Fields) Smith, she was born on Wednesday, November 30, 1927. She was the second of three children. At an early age, she accepted Christ as her Savior at Mt. Tabor First Baptist Church. Her formal education was received from the Putnam County School District in Palatka. After graduating from Central Academy High with the Class of 1946, Mrs. Green earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education in 1950 from Florida Memorial College, St. Augustine (now Florida Memorial University, Miami). During the summer months of 1951-1960, she attended Florida A&M University, Bethune-Cookman College and the University of Central Florida. Her extensive career as an educator included teaching in Quincy, FL for one year and Gadsden County for two  years. For a combined period of 40 years, she served as a Putnam County educator at Central Academy Elementary School and Kelley Smith Elementary School.  She was also employed with Central Florida Legal Services Parent Education Program and Green's Tutorial Learning Center. She earned the Teacher of the Year award while working at Kelly Smith Elementary School.

Mrs. Green served in numerous capacities at Mt. Tabor, including: Youth Director, Sunday School Teacher, Missionary Society Bible Teacher, Youth Choir Founder and Director, Adult Choir Member and Church Secretary. Later, she became a member of the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church. Initially, she served during the pastorate of  Rev. Clarence Mallory, Jr. and subsequently during the pastorate of Rev. Tommy J. Rodgers.  At Bethlehem, she continued the leadership roles she began at Mt. Tabor: Program Coordinator, Public Relations Staff Member and Southern District Union Auxiliary to Union St. James Missionary Baptist Association.

Community service roles and affiliations included: Trustee Board Secretary, Team Captain,  March of Dimes; Girl Scouts Troop Leader, Putnam County Habitat for Humanity Board Member and Family Committee Chairperson, Putnam African American Cultural Arts Council (Assistant Treasurer and President), Charter member of Zeta Mu Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (50 plus years), African American Cultural Arts Council, President, Financial Secretary, Archonette Advisor and the Crescent City Women's Civic Association.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in eternal rest by her husband, David W. Green; son, Dane Edwards; daughter, Lillian Alston Bivins; great grandson, Glenn Davis III; sister, Mozean Smith English Greene;  brother, Eugene Smith.

She leaves to cherish her memories: daughter, Shirley Edwards; son David (Permelia) Green; adopted daughter, Brenda Dixon; "like a son," Ronald Jenkins; god-children, Paul Walker, Lynette Manning Maxwell, Angela Brown, and Kimberly Calhoun Allen; niece, Antionette Greene Wells; nephew, Orien R. Greene; grandchildren, Danielle Brown, Latara Edmonds, Justina Green, Alexis Bivins, Sharrieff (Kelsie) Woodson, Jasmine Green, DaShea Green, Mike (Precious) Gilliam, Brandy Gilliam, Jontry Thomas; honorary grandchildren D'Ariel Session, Darrell Session, T'Keara Watson Schofield, Carl'Meka Brown; 18 great grandchildren; and a host of great nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.

Visitation of family and friends: 5-7 p.m., Friday, March 31; Celebration of Life: 11 a.m., Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, 800 Madison St., Palatka, FL,  Rev. Tommy Rodgers, Pastor and eulogist. Interment: Oak Hill West Cemetery.