Evelyn “Evie” Downs Green, age 93, died peacefully on Sunday, February 4,
2018 in Athens, Georgia, surrounded by her family. From her birth on May 17,
1924 until her death, she shared compassion to all who knew her. Born in
Manchester, New Hampshire, she was raised in Portsmouth by adoring
parents. As an excellent student, writer, and avid reader, she attended Keene
Teachers’ College and graduated from the University of New Hampshire in
1944 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. While in college, she met her future
husband, Osmond “Burk” Green of New Orleans, when he was stationed with
the US Army in New Hampshire, before departing for Europe to serve in
WWII. Upon his return from Germany, they were married at Immaculate
Conception Church in Portsmouth. She then resided in New Orleans where
her husband was employed, first by the Army Corps of Engineers, and
afterward with a long career at Chevron. Before marriage, she taught English,
Latin, French, and Spanish in New Hampshire. After she married, and amidst
raising a family of six, Evelyn taught at New Orleans private schools and held
secretarial positions with the shipping industry (as a translator), Louisiana Life
Magazine, and the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Following Burk’s death in
1980, she traveled coast to coast and abroad, visiting children and
grandchildren. On her first such trip she ventured alone to the Netherlands on
a surprise family visit. While in Europe, she fulfilled her dream by exploring
Luxembourg and the small villages of Alsace-Lorraine in northern France, the
place of her husband’s ancestry.
Left to honor Evie’s memory are her six children: Melissa Green of San
Francisco; Melinda McGee (John Melnychuk) of Palo Alto, CA; Eric (Lynn)
Green of Gulfport, MS; Karen Green of Atlanta; Dr(s). Kristin (Rex) Holt of
Winder, GA; and Evelyn (Greg) Reece of Lexington, GA; ten grandchildren:
Ramsey Truitt, Yasmina Green, Sara Derby (Joel Wietelmann), John Green,
Ryan Holt, Spencer Davis, Claudia (Edward) Stilliard, Nathan Holt, Glenn
Reece, and Clayton Reece; one great-granddaughter, Daniela Green; sister-
in-law, Margaret “Sissy” Green Flynn of New Orleans; and many nieces and
nephews, whom she adored. Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents,
Lillian May Brawn Downs and Thornton Oren Downs; her husband, Osmond
Burk Green; mother-in- law, Lillian Burk Green; father-in- law, Osmond
Redmond Green; sister-in- law, Lillian Green Habans; brother-in- law, John
Archibald Green; and sister-in- law, Jimmie Streng.

Evie will be remembered as a quiet, loving, and compassionate soul, whose
love of literature was surpassed by none. Her funeral service will be held at
the Catholic Center, University of Georgia, at 4 pm, Monday, March 26 th ,
followed by a reception at the UGA Founders’ Memorial Garden. Evelyn’s
inurnment will be at Lake Lawn Mausoleum in New Orleans, where her
husband, Burk, rests. The Green family extends immense gratitude to Dr. May
Luz Bullecer of Athens Geriatrics & Internal Medicine and the staff of
Whispering Pines for their attentiveness and loving care. In lieu of flowers,
memorial donations may be made to the Franciscan Challenge ministries to
the poor, www.haveafranciscanheart.org.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Evelyn Green, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.