Deaconess Leah Rebecca Slocum Greene

“We see a hearse; we think sorrow. We see a grave; we think despair. We hear of a death; we think of a loss. Not so in heaven. When heaven sees a breathless body, it sees the vacated cocoon & the liberated butterfly.” ― Max Lucado, Christian Author and Preacher The Greene, Stubblefield, Slocum, Shavers and their extended families announce the triumphant transition from this terrestrial realm to the celestial city in her 105th year of Deaconess Leah Rebecca Slocum Greene. The transition occurred at the home of her grandson, Rev. Dr. Stephen Greene Howard, Mechanicsville, Virginia, on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at seven thirty anti-meridian. The late Deaconess Leah Rebecca Slocum Greene (The Fourth Child) was born on December 20, 1918, in the township of Johnsonville, Montserrado County, Liberia, West Africa unto the Union of the late Rev. John Alpha Slocum and Deaconess Luetta Shavers Slocum. Her parents immigrated to Liberia on March 26, 1896 aboard The Laurade from Conway, Arkansas and settled in the townships of Johnsonville and Barnesville, Liberia, West Africa. Deaconess Greene received her public education in the townships of Barnesville and Johnsonville. At an early age, she embraced the Christian faith and was baptized by her late father, Rev. John Alpha Slocum, at the Macedonia Baptist Church Barnesville, Liberia. She later transferred her membership and became a founding member with eight others, which included her parents and sister, Rachel Slocum Knight, of the Shady Grove Baptist Church, Johnsonville, Liberia in 1933. She served in several leadership roles of the church and was consecrated as a Deaconess. Leah Rebecca met and married the late Mr. Stephen Augustus Greene of Barnesville, Liberia in 1939. Leah was blessed with eleven children, Reuben, Esther, Bennetta, Luetta, Rebecca, Nathan, Thelma, Theresa, Simeon, Lawrence, and Raymond. She also fostered and adopted several other children which include Morris, Joshua, Moses, Dorothy, Elveda, etc. Leah had a love for children and began her career in teaching. She impacted the lives of many young Liberian youth beginning with a daycare to Pre-K levels on her front porch at her home on Randall Street, Monrovia, Liberia. Leah aided in the creation of the Julia Slocum Mission, with her late cousin, Mother Julia Slocum. Leah also taught at the Johnsonville Public School and later established the Mark Shavers Kindergarten school in Johnsonville, Liberia. Many young people in Liberia attribute their early educational foundation to the tutelage of Deaconess Greene. Teacher Greene as she was affectionately called also served with the Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), Liberia along with the late Mother Vernal Steven and helped institute what is now known as Bethesda Ministries, Paynesville, Liberia. Leah Rebecca served as a Public Relations Officer during the Administrations of the late President William V.S. Tubman and President William R. Tolbert. Deaconess Greene served the Shady Grove Baptist Church, Johnsonville, Liberia as a Deaconess for over 78 years. She was also a faithful member of the Providence Baptist Church, Monrovia, Liberia serving with the Mary Circle, who is responsible for the current pulpit at Providence, Monrovia, Liberia. Upon repatriation to the United States of America, while living with her daughter Mrs. Thelma Stubblefield Saunders, Deaconess Greene became a member of Bishop Memorial AME Church in Columbia, South Carolina, where she served on the Stewardess Board. She longed to returned to her Baptist roots, and later transferred to the Central Baptist Church, Columbia, South Carolina and served as a Deaconess until she moved to live with her grandson and his family in Virginia. The grandson she reared and cared for became her pastor as she became a member of The Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Richmond, Virginia and Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church, Greenville, North Carolina as a Deaconess under the leadership of that grandson, Rev. Dr. Stephen Greene Howard. Leah, working with others, established the Friday Neighborly Prayer Band of Johnsonville, Liberia and the Two Better Then One Saturday Morning Prayer Band of Columbia, South Carolina. Deaconess Greene served faithfully the Providence Baptist Association; The Baptist Union Meeting, The Liberia Baptist Sunday School Convention, The Women’s Missionary Union, and The Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention as a talent worker for over fifty years. Her social involvement included membership of the Ida C. Roberts Temple No. 144, Sisters of the Mysterious Ten Johnsonville, where she rose to exalted position as Past Princess. She was a member of the Sisters of the East Household of Ruth, No. 5652, rising to the position of Past Noble Grand Governor, The International Organization of Good Templar, and The Women’s League Union Mechanics of Monrovia, Liberia. Her parents; fifteen siblings; and her children: Reuben, Esther, Luetta, Rebecca, Lawrence, and Raymond, predeceased her. She was also predeceased by her grandchildren: Georgia Wesley, Eugenia Anderson, Bimba Kromah, and Lawrence W. Stubblefield, Jr., and several other beloved cousins and friends. She leaves to cherish and continue her legacy five children: Mrs. Bennetta Greene Mensah (Reuben) Richmond, Virginia, Mr. M. Nathan Stubblefield, Sr., Toledo, Ohio, Ms. Thelma Stubblefield Saunders, Monrovia, Liberia, Dr. Theresa Stubblefield Jordan, Atlanta, Georgia, and Deacon Simeon K. Stubblefield, Sr. (Naniee), Atlanta, Georgia. One daughter-in-law, Mrs. Rebecca Stubblefield, Monrovia, Liberia. 21 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Several foster children, cousins, nephews, nieces, and a host of other relatives and friends. Rest on Leah, meet those who have gone before, and above all, meet The King of Glory! Until we meet again. “Servant of God, well done! Rest from thy loved employ; the battle fought, the victory won, enter thy Master’s joy.” – James Montgomery

Tributes

Deaconess Leah Rebecca Slocum Greene

December 20, 1918 - March 18, 2023