Mary Ellen (Selman) Greene, 86, passed away on Feb. 16, at 11:25 p.m., in the Madison County Memorial Hospital in the presence of family, after an extended illness.
Mary Ellen was born on March 10, 1939, in Madison, Fla., to Buford and Lucile Selman. She graduated from Madison High School, and then University of Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Journalism. She married her high school sweetheart, T.H. "Tommy" Greene, Jr., and had four children.
Mary Ellen taught high school English at Madison High School and Greenville High School. However, shortly after their marriage, the couple founded the Madison County Office Supplies and the Madison County Carrier newspaper, from scratch, on Aug. 4, 1964, and began building a legacy.
Together, they went on to buy the Mayo Free Press and the Branford News; found the White Springs Leader; purchase The Swapper and Madison Meats; found the WO3AO LPTV television station; and purchase the Madison Enterprise-Recorder.
Their newspapers received numerous awards. One year, two of their newspapers were named in the top ten weeklies in the state; in another year, they were named among the top three. They consistently won multiple state and national awards for writing, photography and design. Mary Ellen herself won state awards for writing, photography and both humorous and serious columns; in 2004 she received the Shining Star Award from the Florida Press Association.
Mary Ellen enjoyed music and served as pianist while growing up in the First Baptist Church of Madison. She loved her hometown and was active in many local organizations: she was a member of the Eastern Star, served as First Lady of the Marzuq Shrine Temple, and was president of the Junior Woman’s Club and the Madison Garden Club. She also enjoyed being a Shrine clown alongside her husband, Tommy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Buford and Lucile Selman; her husband, T.H. "Tommy" Greene, Jr.; a son, Forest Selman Greene; a sister, Susan Lee Selman; a grandson, James Noland Greene; and a niece, Amber Selman.
She is survived by a sister, Roberta Selman, of Madison; twin brother, Wiley Selman, of Santa Rosa Beach; brother, Bill Selman, of Gainesville; children: Harvey (Janice) Greene, William Greene, and Emerald Greene, all of Madison; 10 grandchildren: Thomas Greene (Rachel), Kelli Greene (Charlie), Hunter Greene (Erin); Joshua Greene, Jade Greene, Daniel Greene (Ashley), Forest Greene, Matthew Greene, Cheltsie Kinsley Holbrook (Marcus), and Brooke Kinsley Riley; 16 great-grandchildren and a brother-in-law, Bubba Greene (Maria).
The viewing is scheduled from 3-6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18, at Beggs Funeral Home, in Madison. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 19, at the First Baptist Church of Madison. Interment will immediately follow at Oakridge Cemetery, in Madison.