Autobiography of

Stanley Green

By Stanley Green

My Parents & Siblings This is a photo of my parents and siblings six boys and six

girls. (Top row left-right) 1. My oldest brother (Little) Willie,

Jr. 2. My oldest sister Betty Jo 3. James (deceased) and standing

behind him with hat on my dad (big) Willie, Sr. (deceased) 4.

Fred 5. Johnny 6. Jackie and next to her my mom Annie Betty

(deceased). (Bottom row right-left) 7. Frank 8. Edith 9.

Vivienne 10. Mary 11. Stanley (me) 12. Sharon. I grew up at

768 N. Montgomery in the Klondike neighborhood of

Memphis, TN. My oldest sister Betty Jo operated a beauty

salon well over 30 years. My sister Sharon took over after Betty

had retired. My father worked at Firestone Tire & Rubber

Plant for 38 years. My mother was a devoted house wife.

Me & my nephew Reggie My nephew Reggie is the oldest grandchild of my parents and the

oldest child of my brother Willie. Reggie is one year younger than me

and one year older that his aunt Sharon. Myron and Beryl are Reggie’s

twin siblings. They grew up around us until their teenage years before

relocating to Chicago. We still remain close after all these years. Often

times we share stories. Some of my best memories are when we were

younger having fun. I treasure growing up in a big family. I love all

my nephew and nieces. We get along fine considering family size.

My brother Fred Here is an old photo of my older brother Fred (center) with Reggie

(right) and I (left). My mom and dad owned and operated a small

neighborhood sundry. They closed our sundry down when I was a

small child. I have faint memories. I do recall that neighbors had high

regards for my parents and our family as a whole. There were times

when our father needed us to come home while we were playing. My

father would whistle real loud to call us home. The neighbors even

knew that when Mr. Green whistled we best scamper home quickly.

Sharon Reggie & Stanley

Here we are Sharon, Reggie and Stanley riding our bikes still with

training wheels. We had a real nice clean neighborhood. It was safe

growing up. It wasn’t until I had graduated from Nothside High School

that our neighborhood began to decline. Often times I reflect back and

wish that the city could restore our neighborhood. More than likely that

may not happen in my lifetime. I do know that it would make my

parents happy looking down from heaven to see Klondike revived. The

reason I say this is they were early pioneers to start our community.

Stanley & Beneda Smith My 1971 classmates at Northside High School Memphis City Schools

voted Beneda Smith and me as Mr. and Miss Senior. What made me

popular with my classmates is I acted very mature for my age. I think

this is why my peers voted me as Mr. Senior of our graduating class. I

don’t know if I have deserved or lived up to my title. To me it is good

to reflect back. At least I can say I must have done something right to

be viewed by my classmates with such high regards. One reason I like

sharing about my title in high school is for persons in my circle who

don’t know me well may have the wrong impression of me. I am one

of the friendliest persons you will ever meet. After graduation I carried

myself in a dignified manner reflective of my graduating classmates.

What my classmates had to say about me I found some signatures in my senior yearbook

where a few of my female classmates said some

complimentary things about me. It’s nice that

my classmates respected me a lot. Likewise, I

have a great deal of respect for students who I

have attended high school. I really don’t make

class reunions anymore. My life has had a down

side of events where I really don’t care to mix or

mingle. My heart is with the ones who attend. I

wish my classmates have a great time together.

The only reunions I attend are with my family.

Sandra Graffaree (Dec 2, 1953 – Dec 10, 2004 Sandra Graffaree lived across the street from our home on Montgomery St. We dated off and on. Sandra

had these beautiful green eyes. My son Lynn and I met Sandra in Killeen, TX where she was working at

Sears. Sandra had married a military guy at Fort Hood. She invited us to her home to meet her husband.

Sandra and I have remained good friends throughout her life. I spoke well of her going home celebration.

This is my family My first marriage (1974-1993) was to Sandra Strickland Green graduate of Hamilton High School of

Memphis. We met at the University of Memphis back in 1973. We had three children Barbara (1976), Oliver

(1982) and Olivia (1988). My oldest daughter Barbara has given me two grandkids Kyree (boy) and Saffron

(girl). My oldest son is Lynn Steward (1971). Lynn has given me two grandkids Sherrica (girl) & Savanial

(boy). My second marriage (1994-2008) was to Sandra Moore Green. No kids were born in our marriage.

Stanley Green & Sandra Kay Moore Sandra and I actually had met at Humes Junior High School of Memphis when I was 14 years of age. I use

to flirt with her back then but we never became intimate. After I had divorced my first wife Sandra #1 she

and I decided to get married. We did well for a number of years and finally began to grow apart. She and I

have remained the best of friends. My ex-wives have become known as Sandra # 1 and Sandra # 2.

Family gatherings Family gatherings were often times held at my brother’s James home, until he deceased. As you may see we

all favor our father and mother. Often time’s folks may have mistaken us because we look so much alike.

James had a large swimming pool and taught swimming lessons. James’ son Shaun and I are in the photo.

Tina Hills from New Orleans This is a photo of Tina Hills and her brother David with me on Beale Street in 2008. Tina and I have lived

together for five (5) years. She had relocated to Memphis from

New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Tina’s nickname

is ‘Butter’. It had taken me a while to get use to calling Tina by

her name, because I had spent 33 years of my life calling my

ex-wives by Sandra. Often times I had to catch myself not to

have a slip of the tongue. Eventually, I got use to saying Tina

and she decided to move back to New Orleans. Tina has re-

established herself in New Orleans and has invited me to come

relocate with her, but I am home bound. New Orleans is a nice

place to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there. We are still good friends and talk over the phone. Tina has

gotten on me by not calling her as often as I should. I have become accustomed to just being by myself. I

don’t harbor any hard feelings, because Tina has actually been real good to me the best in making love. So,

if my honey were ever to relocate back to Memphis, I am sure we would get together like the old days.

Event that shaped my teenage life

My brothers and sisters accommodated me at the early age of fourteen (14) to attend the funeral of Dr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. in Atlanta, GA. This was my first time visiting Atlanta. I recall seeing the multitude.

I had never seen so many people of different nationalities coming to eulogize his going away celebration. I

recollect how friendly the people of

Atlanta were to welcome visitors to

their city. One kind lady invited us as

guest into her home so we may

refresh from our drive from Memphis.

We had changed clothes. By fate her

apartment was on Peachtree Street.

It overlooked the podium where the

eulogy ceremony was being performed.

Every celebrity you can imagine came

parading down the street. It was a

sight to behold more spectacular than anything I can remember, because of the diversity of people. While I

stood on that lady’s balcony a spirit came over me and I believe it was the spirit of Dr. King. He blessed me

to manifest the dream he had inspired in his speech ‘I have a dream’ at Mason Temple of Memphis, TN. All

my life I have tried to live up to what Dr. King has inspired in me as a child during his legacy and lifetime.

Military Training & College Education I have acquired both military training and college education:

1. 1980 Graduate Memphis State University BA Degree

2. 1982 Graduate Fort Jackson Adjutant General School 71L

3. 1984 Graduate Control Data Institute of Technology

4. 2013 Graduate Southwest Tennessee Community College

I have recently graduated from Southwest Community College

Certificate Program for Substance Abuse Counselor. I did well

enough (straight A’s and 2 B’s) to earn honor on the Dean’s List.

I plan to utilize my education to help advance my nonprofit

organization that I have started for homeless veterans.

Our family tree Our family tree especially on our mother’s side Annie Betty (Davis) Green is

significant to my legacy as a Civil Rights writer. It is imperative for me to highlight

my mother’s life. I wish to introduce two (2) public records (Annie Davis birth

certificate & Nan Davis’ obituary). The reason is I need to show unequivocal proof

that my dear mother and her sister Maggie (Davis) Harris Isabel (Downtown Street

named in her honor) have relocated to the City of Memphis from Haywood County

TN after the Ku Klux Klan had threaten to lynch her uncle Elisha Davis for he and

his siblings organizing voter registration campaigns for Blacks to legally vote. Dr.

Richard A. Couto has published a documentary that has verified my mother’s

lineage has served as the first line of Civil Rights workers in the State of Tennessee.

Klan has Railroad our Mother The Klan has railroad our mother as if she were on the wrong track

living in Brownsville, TN. Haywood County District Attorney Office

has never prosecuted any Klansman for terrorizing her relatives to

relocate out of town. Our dear mother and her sister have planted

their roots in Shelby County as outstanding citizens. The governor of

the State of Tennessee should make amends to our family, because

Haywood County District Attorney’s Office has failed to uphold TCA

39-17-309 Civil Rights Intimidation. My mother and most of her kin

people during that era have deceased. Yet, their memory is still alive.

Nann Davis (1906-2005) Obituary

Lifting the Veil

Maggie H. Isabel (Our dear mother’s only sister who fled from Brownsville to Memphis)

Annie Betty Davis Green & Willie V. Green Annie Betty Davis was born to Ed Davis and Mary Thompson January 26, 1917 in Brownsville, TN. Annie

married Willie V. Green April 28, 1934 in Shelby County, TN. Mr. and Mrs. Green have established a legacy

of marriage extending 76 years. Myron Lowery Memphis City Council has presented Mr. and Mrs. Green a

proclamation signed by Mayor Dr. Willie W. Herenton on their 50TH wedding anniversary celebration.

Family Patriarch Wiley Henry, Tri-State Defender Newspaper has published a Father’s Day Story about our father Willie V.

Green, Sr. My father has a legacy of his own in that he stayed married to our dear mother for 76 years.

Reparation 40 Acres and a Mule If you are ever in Memphis, TN riding down Elvis Presley Blvd just north of Elvis’ Mansion look for the

billboard my oldest brother Willie has posted for Reparations. He

has published a photo of our dear father Willie V. Green, Sr. He is

asking all African Americans to sign his petition on Change.org.

My brother will submit gathered signatures to John Boehner,

Speaker of the House. It doesn’t cost one red cent for anyone to

sign his or her name to Willie’s petition. He has dug deep in his

pocket to afford the cost to pay to have his billboard erected.

Hundreds of thousands cars travel Elvis Presley Blvd. Millions

of tourist from out of town will see this advertisement. Tri-State

Defender may eventually publish a news article. This may become a

historical moment in America. All we need is your support. It

doesn’t matter where you live in the United States or abroad. Please take a moment of your time to sign.

https://www.change.org/petitions/andrew-john-boehner-speaker-of-the-united-state-house-of-

representative-have-the-federal-government-to-pay-reparation-to-black-americans-2