Lucia Greene

Lucia Greene joined the ranks of angels this weekend at the age of 90. She passed away peacefully at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community on the evening of Saturday, April 18th, 2020. She was surrounded by her family whom she loved so deeply and the amazing caregivers at Deerfield, where she had been a beloved resident for the past two years.

Lucia was born on June 4, 1929 as Margaret “Lucia” Brown to the late Burder and Mildred Brown. She was their only child. She spent her childhood in the North Asheville community and eventually moved to West Asheville. She spent her education in the Asheville City School system and graduated from Lee Edwards High School. She was a lifelong member of Calvary Baptist Church.

In 1948, she married the love of her life, the late Paul P. Greene. They were married for 63 years before he joined church triumphant in 2011. They had a beautiful life together – she was a loving and dedicated wife. She was a devoted mother to her children, Michael Greene and wife Eva, and Paula (Greene) Webb and husband Steve. She was especially proud of her three grandchildren Christopher Webb and wife Jennifer of Park City, Utah; Paul Webb and wife Jessica of Seattle, Washington; and Eva-Michelle (Greene) Spicer and husband Elliott of Asheville. Her great-grandson, Caleb Webb, brought so much joy to her life when he would come to visit. The caregivers who were with her in her final years also became family. She was so blessed to have Amanda Davis, Mimi Stroupe and Deanna Mills by her side at Deerfield these past few years. Her family was her greatest pride and joy!

Lucia was a lifelong hard worker. She worked as an operator at the Southern Bell telephone company, a bookkeeper and personal assistant at Matthews Ford, and after her children were in school she worked alongside her husband at Wick and Greene Jewelers. Together, Lucia and Paul grew the business to become one of the premier jewelers in the country. She was delighted to see the company transform into Spicer Greene Jewelers when her granddaughter and grandson-in-law purchased the company and became the fourth generation of the Asheville institution.

Lucia was a great philanthropist and animal lover – she would often tell family that she loved them but that she REALLY loved her dogs! She supported many causes benefiting Calvary Baptist Church, local animal agencies and her beloved Asheville. She contributed a tremendous amount to the Asheville she called home: together with Paul and son Michael, she was a pioneer of the revitalization of downtown Asheville in the 1980s with the construction of Wick and Greene Plaza.

Above all, Lucia was a devoted wife to Paul, and a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She taught everyone she knew compassion, humility, generosity, perseverance and love. She will be missed, but her sweet and feisty spirit will forever be a part of everyone who knew her.

Due to the current healthcare crises, a very intimate graveside family service will be held and a celebration of Lucia’s long and full life will be held at a later date.

Mrs. Greene will lie in state from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue.

A charitable endowment has been established in their name to help young entrepreneurs like Paul and Lucia. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Paul and Lucia Greene Charitable Endowment at the Community Foundation of WNC, 4 Vanderbilt Park Drive, Asheville, NC 28803. Memorials may also be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 531 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806; Memory Care Asheville, 100 Far Horizons Lane, Asheville NC, 28803; or to the Asheville Humane Society 16 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville, NC 28806.

Mrs. Greene’s graveside service was broadcast live at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday on FaceBook and on YouTube. To view, go to Facebook.com/grocefh at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, or to YouTube.com and search for Lucia Greene April 22, 2020.

Order for the Service for the Worship of God
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Two O’clock in the Afternoon

Prelude: Tennessee Waltz

Welcome and Prayer: The Rev. Butch Stillwell

The Lord be with you
And also with you

A Reading from Psalms 34:17-18

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Hymn * All Things Bright and Beautiful

The Reading of God’s Holy Word

A Reading from Proverbs 31:10-31

The word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.

Hymn * A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Remarks from Calvary Baptist Pastor
The Rev. Butch Stillwell

Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Life of Lucia Greene

Open for Remarks from Family and Friends

The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Given us this day, our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen

Hymn * Amazing Grace

Commendation The Rev. Butch Stillwell

Postlude: My Way

All Things Bright and Beautiful

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colours,
He made their tiny wings.

All things bright …

The purple headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;−

All things bright …

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,−
He made them every one:

All things bright …

God gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

Proverbs 31

10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

A Mighty Fortress is Our God
A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing:
Our helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work his woe;
His craft and power are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth is his name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,—
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! His doom is sure,—
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers—
No thanks to them—abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also:
The body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is for ever.

Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace! how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.

The Lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.

Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come;
’tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,
we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.