Mary Lena Green Mayberry

Mary Lena Green Mayberry

A host of angels escorted Mary Lena Green Mayberry to her heavenly home on September 27, 2021.

Born in Wray, Georgia on November 5, 1929, to Lilliana and Charles Green, Mary graduated from Ocilla High School, received her BA in education from Tift College, and earned her master's degree in education from East Tennessee State.

At age 17, Mary began teaching high school English and history in rural Georgia. Ten years later, she moved to Haines City to teach English and reading at Haines City High School and later at Haines City Junior High, where she taught for 25 years. In total, she taught school for 37 years, retiring in 1982.

During her first year in Haines City, Mary met her future husband, Charles Mayberry on a blind date. They were married on August 3, 1958, and celebrated 53 years together before Charles' death due to Alzheimer's Disease in 2012. Charles was a long-time sales manager at Haines City Citrus Growers Association, and they lived in Loughman for 41 years, before Mary moved to Haines City after Charles' passing.

During her professional years at Haines City High and Junior High, Mary sponsored the Junior Class, National Honor Society, and the Student Council. She was a member of the local, state, and national Councils of Teachers of English, serving as president of the local council for two terms and district director of the Florida council. She was a judge for the Florida Council of Teachers of English Student Writing Contest, and along with inspiration from Bob Fisher, she helped found the Polk County Council of Teachers of English Student Poetry Contest, which has encouraged and recognized the writing talents of thousands of Polk County students for over 40 years.

All her life, Mary showed her love of God through her church ministry. As a teenager growing up in Georgia, she taught children's Sunday School, led prayer meetings, and served in any way she could at New Hope Church ion Ambrose, Georgia. As an adult, her dedication to the Lord continued at First Baptist Church (now NorthRidge) of Haines City, serving as Sunday School director from 1986 through 2000 under the leadership of Pastor Don Maiden. During her senior years, she was a faithful attender, cultivating a close relationship with her church family. As a young child, even before starting school, Mary loved the song "Into My Heart," a hymn that made a lasting impression on her life.

Preceded in death by her parents; husband; and older brother, Polk Jessee Green, she is survived by her great-granddaughter, Maci Scarborough of Ocklawaha; cousin, Joe Flethcer Veal of Ocilla, GA, and a loving church family.

A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, October 22, 2021, at 11 am at NorthRidge Church in Haines City and the inurnment will be on Saturday at New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Ambrose, Ga at 2 pm. Condolences via:www.oakridgefuneralcare.com