Mrs. Sandra Elizabeth (Harris) Greene

Sandra Elizabeth Harris was born in Beckley, West Virginia, on October 12, 1944. She and her family moved to Castalia, North Carolina, in the 1950s when her father took the position as principal at his hometown primary school. Sandra graduated from the original Nash Central High School in 1962. (Many years later, four of her grandchildren would go on to graduate from Nash Central High School as it exists today.)

In 1966, Sandra graduated from Hampton Institute (now University) in the same class as her lifelong love, Willie Henry Greene. They were married in Castalia the summer after graduation on August 20, 1966. Sandra and Willie spent the early years of their marriage living in Baltimore, Maryland, and later in Atlanta, Georgia. Ultimately, they put down roots in Jacksonville, Florida, where Sandra was an elementary school teacher for more than three decades. 

She loved the Lord and devoted her life to God at an early age. She also had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to laugh and make others laugh as well. However, because she had such a zest for life and such a wonderful, playful spirit, she played a little too much in Sunday School and wasn’t ready to be baptized in Beckley before her family moved. 

So, she was baptized for the first time by Rev. Lawrence Edwards at Castalia Missionary Baptist Church. 

In Jacksonville, she rededicated her life to Christ and was baptized again in 1977. She later found her church home at First Timothy Baptist Church.

Knowing Sandra meant you were introduced to the goodness of God because she never shied away from sharing her faith with those who would listen. Her habit of prayer and devotion are the cornerstones upon which she built her life and her family, and she prayed for them by name every night — even until the end of her life.

Sandra and Willie were blessed with three children: Anita Michelle (and husband Derek), Michael Allen (and wife Cecilia), and David Edward Sr. (and wife Nakessa). Waiting to greet Sandra on the other side of the veil are her parents, Cleveland Sr. and Alma Penn Harris; her sister-in-law Delores “Pudden” Harris; and a host of other angels.

In addition to her children and their spouses, she leaves to cherish her memory: her brother Cleveland Harris Jr. (and dear friend Jeanette Branch); eight grandchildren; one great-niece; three great-grandchildren; her niece Jada Harris Martinez (and husband Amadeo); her cousin and namesake Florence Sandra “Sister” Penn; lifelong friend Barbara Mills and family; and a host of other relatives, and friends. 

Funeral services will be held on July 22 at 11am at First Timothy Baptist Church, 12103 Biscayne Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida 32218. Arrangements in Jacksonville have been entrusted to Sarah L. Carter's Funeral Home - Northside, 6665 New Kings Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32219.

A memorial service will be held on July 29 at 11am at Castalia Missionary Baptist Church, 10404 Lancaster Store Rd, Castalia, North Carolina 27816. 

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the nurses and staff at Gentiva and CenterWell; Dr. Daniel Boykin and the staff at Eastern NC Medical Group; the doctors and nurses at UNC Nash Critical Care Unit; and to the William Toney Funeral Home in Spring Hope for their loving care of our beloved Sandra Elizabeth.

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