Deloris Green-Johnson

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Mrs. Deloris Green, a cherished educator, mentor, devoted mother, and grandmother who left an indelible mark on the lives of all who knew her. After more than three decades of selfless service, Deloris passed away peacefully at age 75 on February 16, 2025.

Deloris was born May 3, 1949, to James Pickens and Blanche Stovall. She attended Columbia Elementary School and later graduated from Magnolia High School in 1967. She later attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, graduating with a bachelor’s degree. In 1970. Deloris met the love of her life, James Carl Green. They were united in holy matrimony on November 26, 1971. They soon relocated from Arkansas to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On August 18, 1976 James and Deloris Green welcomed their son Jerod. Deloris spent 14 years teaching in Milwaukee Public School District before relocating to the place she would call home, Decatur, IL. Mr. and Mrs. Green remained happily married until Mr. James Green was called to his heavenly home in 2019. In 2024, Deloris was given “a second chance at love,” marrying James B. Johnson on October 28, 2024, who cared for her unconditionally until the end.

Deloris Green was a proud resident of Decatur, Illinois, dedicating over 25 years to shaping young minds as a teacher in Decatur Public Schools District 61 at French Academy Elementary School as a second-grade teacher. Known for her unwavering dedication to her students, she embodied the true essence of both firmness and fairness. Her classroom was a place where respect was earned through hard work and integrity, not through raised voices but through her commanding presence and the high expectations she set for each of her students. She was an educator who believed every child could succeed and worked tirelessly to help them achieve their best.

Her students, colleagues, friends, and family will forever remember her for her integrity, her wisdom, and the care she showed to everyone she encountered. She often talked about the importance of teaching the “whole child” and instilled this practice in the teachers she mentored. She had a quiet strength that spoke volumes, and her legacy as a teacher will live on in the hearts and minds of all the children and families whose lives she touched.

Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Deloris Green was a devoted mother to her son, Jerod, and a loving grandmother to her beloved granddaughter, Makail. She found endless joy in spending time with Makail, showering her with love and wisdom. The bond they shared was one of a kind, filled with laughter, love, and treasured moments. Deloris was a pillar of strength and kindness, offering her family unwavering support and encouragement.

Deloris was preceded in death by her husband, James Green; father, James Pickens; mother, Blanche Stovall; and brother, Vincent Patterson. She leaves husband James Johnson, Decatur, IL, son Jerod (Shikinah) Green; grandchildren Jordan Holly and Makail Green, all of Clinton, MS; brothers Alvin (Linda) Center of St Louis, MO; Clarance(Hope) Center of Seattle, WA; Raymond Center of St Louis, MO, and sister, Debra Patterson of St Louis, MO bonus children Patricia Johnson of Waukegan, Illinois, Patrick (Colleen) Johnson and bonus grandchildren Aiden and Addison Johnson all of Decatur, IL.

Deloris Green’s life will be celebrated on February 28th with the visitation at 11:00 and the funeral service immediately following at noon at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, located at 530 W. Mound Rd. where family, friends, and former students will gather to honor her memory and her profound impact on our community. A second visitation will be held on March 14, 2025, at 10:00 am, with the service starting at 11:00 am at R. L. Reed Funeral Home, located at 10 Hwy 79 North Magnolia, AR.

Deloris Green may be gone from this world, but her legacy of compassion, hard work, and love will never be forgotten. She was truly one of a kind, and her memory will live on in the countless lives she touched.