Black Everlyn Green first African American Teacher Honered Searcy, AR

“Mrs. Everlyn Green was one of the most pleasant people with whom I ever had the privilege to work,” says Bob Maddox.

He should know. Mr. Maddox was Mrs. Green’s principal for seven years at Searcy High School.

“I observed her as principal, and also as a fellow teacher as we were colleagues before I became principal. She is a sweet, dear lady who never lost her patience with her students or her co-workers,” he said.

Service to Searcy High School and the White County Training School has earned Green, the first African-American teacher at SHS, a spot in the Searcy Public Schools Education Foundation Hall of Honor. She will be inducted with five other educators and alumni at the Third Annual Hall of Honor.

Green was born in West Point and is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ely Shumpourd. Her formal education began there in a two-room school. She graduated from the junior high at the White County Training School with honors, and because her mother knew how important education was, she sent her daughter to Dunbar High School in Little Rock where she graduated with honors. She then went on to earn a degree graduating magna cum laude from Philander Smith College. She also earned a Master’s degree from the University of Arkansas.

It was always Green’s dream to be an educator, and this dream was fulfilled in her teaching at the White County Training School from 1942-1966 and at Searcy High School from 1966-1985 when she retired with a total of 43 years teaching math. Even after her retirement, she continued to serve the district as a substitute teacher.

Her educational activities included county teachers association, Arkansas Education Association and the National Education Association, and she has been awarded the Teacher of the Year Award as well as an academic achievement award.

Green has been an excellent volunteer in the community of Searcy. She has been a faithful member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church having served as pianist, sunday school superintendent and teacher, and she is currently a member and president of the Ethel B. Shumpourd Missionary Society. She is also active in district, state and national youth activities having served for 25 years as an assistant director of the district activities. She has been formerly recognized for her contributions to these activities as well as to the Bethlehem Baptist Youth Choir and Bible School.

Other community involvement includes Zeta Phi Beta sorority and American Association of Retired Personnel. Green is the mother of two children, Mose Turner and Rhonda Turner Butcher, graduates of Searcy High School and Harding University, and Green is step-mother to Dr. Richard Green and Helen Green Skipper. She has three grandchildren, one great-grandchild, four step-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.

Her son Mose, who now resides in Omaha, Nebraska, will present his mother to the foundation. The Hall of Honor will be on Jan. 26, 2006, at the Searcy High School Sullards Annex Cafeteria at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and are on sale at the Searcy Public Schools Superintendent’s Office at 801 North Elm. For more information call 268-3517.