Dr. Franklin Green

Dr. Green left this life on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, which concluded a full and fruitful sojourn on this earth. He was born on March 10, 1923, in Raleigh, N.C., to James Eldridge Green and May Irene Lawrence Green. They were descendants of English immigrants, who settled in Virginia during the seventeenth century. He was the last survivor of eight siblings and was named for one of two ancestors who signed the Declaration of Independence- Francis Lightfoot Lee. Dr. Green was married 33 years to Betsy Jean Holt, of Raleigh; and is survived by one son, Frank A. (Susan) Green; and a second child, Elizabeth Ashley (Al) Bridges, who preceded him in death. He had three grandchildren, Jennifer and Joshua Green, and Jason Booth. He is survived by six grandchildren, Juden Blaze Green, Naya Faith Green, Ella Rose Green, Harper Pax Green, Autumn Maria Kring, and Lavender Zoe Kring. He was married to Maria Nikola Barclifft for 17 years. Dr. Green served in the Army during World War II along with two brothers. As a dentist, he was back in the Army for two more years. His 40 years of practice included these two years during the Korean War as a Captain. Retirement was not a satisfying experience so he spent a full year as a volunteer dentist for the Episcopal Church in Haiti. He continued another dozen years as a part time volunteer, spending two months a year for continual care for the Children at the Saint Vincents School for the Handicapped Children, as they had no other dentist. Another attempt at retirement was unsatisfactory, so he went with Esperanto to work as a dentist on the Amazon in Brazil. Unfortunately retirement eluded him again, so he took a job operating a dental clinic at the Chattanooga Hamilton County Health Department for AIDS/HIV patients, a job no dentist wanted. After 61 years of practice and at 85 years old, retirement did take. His education included Mars Hill College, Wake Forest University and he received his dental degree at Emory University, where he graduated third in his class of 1972. He was interested in Dental Education and became President of the Third District Dental Society and, eventually, President of the Tennessee Dental Association. He also served in the American Dental Association House of Delegates for thirteen years. He is a live member of the Academy of Restorative Dentistry, member of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, Delta Sigma Delta Fraternity, Omicron Kappa Epsilon Honorary Fraternity, Fellow in American College of Dentist, Fellow in the International College of Dentist, and Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry. Some of his other interests were in community service, as being proudly elected "Lion of the Decade", President of Community Concerts, Board of Downtown YMCA, Board of Chattanooga Opera Association, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities, Society of Colonial Wars, Society of the Lees of Virginia, Baronial Order of the Magna Charta, Masonic Lodge, President of Fairyland Bridge Club, Boards of Chattanooga Cares and Saint Peters Episcopal School. He is a member of Grace Episcopal Church and Associate of the Sisters of Saint Margaret. His interest in preservation and history led to the purchase and restoration of the decaying Gordon-Lee-Mansion in Chickamauga in 1974. He is credited with saving this sole remaining structure of the Battle of Chickamauga and he continued to live on the property until his death. Although Dr. Green had ancestors who signed the Declaration of Independence, he felt that it did not ensure the equality of all men; maybe white males; so he was often seen sitting in at lunch counters during the early 60s. He was once hosed down by the Fire Department while protesting that African Americans could only sit in the balcony of the Tivoli. He was denied membership in the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club for his role in integrating the dental society. Dr. Green was an avid reader and particularly enjoyed Richard Rohr, Mister Echart, Elaine Panels, and Jon Meacham. He pinned two books himself, WITNESS OF A HOUSE- 1984 and GROW OLD ALONG WITH ME-MEMORIES ALONG A ROAD LESS TRAVELED 2010, and his own obituary. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, at Grace Episcopal Church 20 Belvoir Ave. Chattanooga, TN 37411. There will be a graveside commitment of Ashes at the Gordon-Lee Mansion, to which the public is invited, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. There will be concert, in Dr. Greens honor by The Chattanooga Bach Choir at Grace Episcopal Church on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, at 6 p.m. In lieu of floral offerings, memorial gifts may be made to the Haiti Fund at the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church 211 Franklin Rd., Lookout Mountain TN 37350. Arrangements by Wilson Funeral Home- Chickamauga.