Julia Ann Higdon Green

On Thursday, July 1, 2021, Julia Ann Higdon Green, peacefully passed away in Tallahassee FL. at the age of 90. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother- a teacher and infamous banana pudding maker.

Julia, (known to most as Julie), was born February 10, 1931, in Macon County, NC. to Alfred and Ann Higdon. She grew up in Franklin NC. where she developed her math skills, a love of people and dogs, and her quick wit. She attended Wake Forest University, was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Kappa MU Epsilon, and graduated magna cum laude in 1952. There she met Livingston Green and they were married on August 24th of the same year. They raised three children Carol, Margaret, and Jimmy, and their granddaughter, Melanie.

Julie had many loves, one of which was math, equaled only by teaching math. What she found in numbers was a language she respected and understood deeply. Teaching this language to high school students was her passion. Julie was employed with Burlington City Schools for nearly 30 years. She taught general math, algebra, and geometry for academically talented students at Turrentine, Sellers-Gunn and Walter M Williams and Hugh M Cummings High Schools.

Over the years, it was not uncommon for Julie’s family to hear from many of her former students, “Mrs. Green changed my life.” She never gave up on a student and she would not allow them to give up on learning math.

Her students changed her life, too. As she aged one would often hear her say, “I have lived so long that my doctor, my lawyer, my accountant, my cardiologist, my dentist, my pharmacist, my police chief, and my funeral directors are all my former students.” She was always proud of her students, and we are grateful for the care they provided in her later years.

Julie loved her church, The First Baptist Church of Burlington, where she was an active member for 68 years and a Deacon. Julie took a special interest in the youth at her church and started the College Student Card Ministry to reach out to young church members who had moved to other cities to attend college.

Julie was an active member of her community. In her earlier years, she was involved with charities such as the March of Dimes and was a member of the Garden Club. In her later years she volunteered at Elon University with the International Student Group. She was a loyal friend and was often seen exercising at the local YMCA with her “Y” friends whom she loved deeply or playing bridge with what we came to know as “The Bridge Club” – her longtime and dearest friends for over 60 years.
Julie rescued people and animals. If you needed caring for, she was up to it. She once saved an injured squirrel who lived with us for a year. She was known to keep a baby snake safe in a box locked in her school desk for one of her students. She took care of a young friend who lived with our family for an extended time. She was a dedicated and loving caregiver to our father who had Alzheimer’s at the end stage of his life.

Julie had a great sense of humor. She often got the last word giving the rest of us the last laugh. Even near the end of her life she kept those who cared for her entertained with her dry wit and snappy banter.

Julie was preceded in death by her husband, James Livingston Green, her parents Alfred and Ann Higdon, her brothers James Terry Higdon, Thomas N. Higdon, and John L. Crawford.
Julie is survived by her children Carol Fenwick, Margaret Ashmore, Jimmy Green, (Barbara); grandchildren Melanie Daniels, (Eric), Sara Fenwick, Amanda Kupchella, (Ryan), Bobby Fenwick, Griffin Ashmore, and Ben and Lily Green; great-grandchildren Maisie, Keller, Ava, Archer, and Aristotle; brother Alfred Higdon and sister Beverly Moore.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm on Monday, July 12, 2021 at Rich & Thompson Funeral Services in Burlington.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at the First Baptist Church of Burlington. Her committal service will be held immediately following her funeral service at Alamance Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to:
ARMC Charitable Foundation Cancer Center General Fund
ATTN: Gift Processing
PO Box 202
Burlington, NC. 27215

 

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