Ellen Batton Green

Ellen Faye Batton Green, our beloved mother and grandmother, passed on October 11, 2010, just two days after her 75th birthday. She will always be remembered for her tremendous love of her family and her church. Ellen was vibrant and healthy until struck by a rare brain disease at the end of July. She always had a smile for everyone. Her family and friends will all miss her very much. Ellen was born in Bunn, North Carolina, to Charles and Betty Batton. She lived in Bunn for the first 17 years of her life. Ellen was a superb athlete and Miss Franklin County in 1952. She met her husband, Thomas Lawrence Green, at a baseball game. They were married for 51 years before his death on August 14, 2004. Together they lived in the Salem Community where they raised four children. They were also members of Salem Baptist Church. After being a mother and housewife for nearly 30 years, Ellen joined the North Carolina school system as an assistant teacher in a special needs class at Swift Creek School. She adored these children and spent many years driving their school bus and spending the day with them. When Ellen wasn't working with special needs children, she dedicated her life to her own children and grandchildren, whom she loved more than herself. Ellen is survived by her children Pat Green of Rocky Mount, North Carolina; Tommy Green and his wife Judy of Bessemer, Alabama; Betty Lynn Wood and her husband Turner of Goldsboro, North Carolina; and Lara Offutt and her husband Tom of Arlington, Virginia. Ellen is also survived by her grandchildren: Sydney Wood, Turner Wood, Alston Offutt, Sam Offutt, Grayson Offutt and John Offutt. She is also step-grandmother to Sherry Turnbull and great-grandmother to her child, Gracen Reeves, of Alabama. Ellen is survived by her loving sister, Lynn Batton Johnson, whom she called the “wind beneath my wings.” Ellen was preceded in death by her brothers, Charles Batton, Jr, David Batton and Donald Batton, and by her sister Mary Jean Batton. A funeral service to remember Ellen will be held at 2:00p.m. Wednesday afternoon at Salem Baptist Church with Rev. Allen Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Rocky Mount Memorial Park. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Salem Baptist Church Building Fund, 4502 Swift Creek School Road, Whitakers, NC 27891. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home, 1130 N. Winstead Ave., Rocky Mount, NC. You may share your memories and send condolences to the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com. Service Location Not Available Wednesday 10/13, 2:00 pm Cemetery Rocky Mount Memorial Park 4454 Dortches Blvd., Hwy 43 Rocky Mount, NC 27804