Mary Helen Greene, age 100, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, April 22, 2023.

Born in the Meat Camp area of Watauga County, Mary Helen was the 4th of 5 children born to Richard and Isabelle Lookabill Greene. Her childhood was filled with a valley full of playmates and innocent adventures. Her best friend was a next-door neighbor, Viola Proffitt. They would walk each other halfway to their respective homes after a visit. The halfway point just happened to be near the old Hopewell Cemetery where they would place their backs together, count to 3 and take off running to their own home alone. She was a tiny woman with a heart and spirit of a giant. While there was time for play, her days were filled with work and lots of it on the farm. Throughout the years, they raised market crops of cabbage, tobacco, and other vegetables. There were chickens, cows, and pigs to be fed. She could milk a cow or be a veterinarian when needed. She outworked strong men and prepared feasts fit for a king for just about anyone she ever met. Being one of four girls and only one boy meant they had to do both outside chores and inside chores. Hers was a simple but hard life, going literally from the horse and buggy days to today's technology. She wasn't very impressed by the latter. She didn't like television and the radio was only good for the morning and evening readings of the obituary. She raised cattle and grew a huge garden and canned its bountiful harvest well into her nineties. She spent her life giving to others in countless ways. When her sister's husband died in a terrible accident, she helped take care of her children, when her parents became old and unable to care for themselves, she devoted herself to them, enabling them to remain at home. Once again when her brother needed her due to ill health, she was there. If a neighbor was in need, she lent a helping hand. Mary Helen never married or had children of her own but loved and cared for her many nieces, nephews, and their children and the next generations. She lived her entire life in the house where she was born and lived alone since 2009 until a month ago after suffering a broken hip. She was funny, sometimes outspoken and could be a little bossy, but it was all with good intentions and love. She was courageous and feisty. She took pride in her appearance; preferring white blouses, tight perms, and lipstick always even to go hoe corn. She was a devoted to God and her church, Hopewell Community Church just a short distance from her home. The night's chores and activities ended with pin curls, a hair net, and a daily Bible devotional reading. The family joked that she never missed a good funeral and knew where every cemetery was located and who was buried there. Mary Helen was a wealth of the local community, all who knew and loved her. An era has passed as we say goodbye and thank you for the wonderful times and memories, she gave us.

She is survived by one brother-in-law, Glenn Miller of Maryland, two nieces, Cleta Holman and husband Jerry of Maryland, Rachel Townsend and husband Dana of Lenoir, two nephews, Richard "Dick" Holman of Maryland and Jerry Winebarger and wife Barbara of Lenoir, one niece-in-law, Violet Winebarger of Boone, five great-nieces, Deborah Greene of Asheville, Kathy Riggin of Boone, Andrea Norris and Chris Eddy of Maryland, Laura Norris of Maryland, Katie Holman of Maryland, four great-nephews, Richard Greene and Fiancée Haley Herman of Boone, Scott Greene and wife Robin of Boone, and Jeff Winebarger, and wife Debra Murphy of Boone, Todd Holman and wife Kristen of Maryland, great-great-nieces, Sierra Adcox of Boone and Great-great-nephew, Jackson Greene of Boone, and a special friend Barbara McKinney of Boone. She was also survived by several great-nieces and nephews and several great-great-nieces and nephews and several great-great-great nieces and nephews.

In addition to her father and mother she was preceded in death by three sisters, Lucy Winebarger and husband Albert, Virgie Holman and husband Cliff, and Sue Miller, one brother, George Greene and wife Lola, four nephews, Mike Greene and wife Mary, John Winebarger and wife Muriel, Rex Miller and Kent Holman. And several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 4:00 P.M. at Hopewell Community Church. Interment will follow in Hopewell Community Cemetery. Pastor Gordon Noble, Reverend Jody Griffin and Reverend Curtis Mull will officiate.

The family will receive friends Friday from 7:00 until 9:00 at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel.

Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to Hopewell Community Cemetery Fund, C/O Barbara McKinney, 5585 NC Hwy 194, North, Boone, North Carolina 28607.

Online condolences may be sent to the Greene family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.