Coalition president Al Greene passes
By Melinda Harrell
Published in News on January 6, 2015 1:46 PM
Full Size
Retired Marine Al Greene was the president of the Wayne County Veterans and Patriots Coalition.
PIKEVILLE -- Albert "Al" E. Greene, Pikeville town commissioner and president of the Wayne County Veterans and Patriots Coalition, died Monday night at Kitty Askins Hospice Center.
He was 77.
Greene spent his lifetime in the service of his country and then in the service of his community through work at the sheriff's office, serving as police chief for Pikeville and then as a Pikeville town commissioner, where he served as police commissioner until last month.
Greene served honorably in the United State Marine Corps, where he retired after 20 years as a master sergeant.
Bill Graham, friend and colleague to Greene, said they met because of Greene's commitment to honoring veterans -- lost and living.
"Al and I both are Vietnam veterans," Graham said. "We worked hand-in-hand for the last seven years. I was getting the Marine Corps League off the ground and Al was one of the first Marine veterans that joined the league. He followed me up the ranks."
Greene was serving as commandant of the Marine Corps League Waynesborough Detachment 1350 at the time of his death.
Greene served on many civic organizations that helped and recognized veterans throughout the county as well.
He was the commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Goldsboro Post No. 2615 and chairman of the Goldsboro/Wayne Purple Heart Foundation.
He also was a member of the American Legion Wayne Post No. 11, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 45 and the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 892.
He also served as a member-at-large on the Wayne County Veterans Services Advisory Board.
His legacy among veterans in the community will remain strong.
Graham said what he will remember most Greene's devotion to veterans and "his compassion for his fellow man, especially his veteran brothers."
Greene's service to the community reaches far beyond veterans services as well. He served in the Wayne County Sheriff's Office for 16 years, retiring as a special deputy.
Before his time at the sheriff's office he served as the police chief for Pikeville for 11 years.
Mayor Glenn Hartman said Greene was an asset to Pikeville and served his community well.
"I have known him for quite a while. He was an asset to the community and served it well on the commission. He was a good gentlemen. The council is going to miss him," Hartman said.
During his time on the board he served as the town's police commissioner, only recently abdicating the position temporarily to Commissioner Todd Anderson due to health problems.