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TRYON — Irene Foster Greene of Tryon passed away Friday afternoon, April 8, 2022, after ninety-two years and eleven months of a long and full life.
Born May 5, 1929, to the late Weldon Greenberry and Ada Cochran Greene, joining 12 brothers and sisters (all of whom preceded her in death): Henry Joshua Greene, William Loyal Greene, wife Anna Miller, Claude Borough Greene, wife Beulah Blanton, Ledger John Greene, wife Anna Laura Hodge, Thelma Bertha Greene, husband Otis Cantrell, Russell Waldon Greene, wife Thelma Williams, Della Mary Anna Greene, husband Doyle Sain, Myrtle Helen Greene, husband Greenberry Loten “Junior” Pace (he went by Junior), Minnie Ruth Greene, husband Floyd Edwards, Lovenia “Trigger” Ada Greene, husband Verle Honeycutt, Ray Greene, wife Celia Owensby, Katie Bell Greene, Donald Gilbert.
She was born in Mill Spring, NC, and lived and worked in Georgia, Dallas and Detroit before returning to her hometown area and living and working in Tryon, NC for many years. She worked and retired from Caro-mi restaurant where she was known and loved by many, especially Charles and Annette Stafford.
She was a member of Beulah Baptist Church in Tryon, NC. She read her Bible every day. Due to her poor vision, she struggled to read but used her magnifying glass. She was very happy when she got the complete Bible on tape and was very proud when she had completed reading/listening to it. In later years she continued growing as a Christian with regular Bible study thanks to the visits from Ms. Jacqueline Nash.
Irene read the Tryon Bulletin every morning, exercised when she could, and kept a very tidy and always welcoming home. Visits and wellness checks from Ms. Cara Lankford were always a bright spot in her day. She loved visiting friends and family, traveling whenever she could, and\ solving puzzles and playing games. While she enjoyed playing Chess and Dominos, she was a champion Checkers player and would gladly play a game with anyone for as long as they could stand losing. She learned to play mancala from her grandchildren Jacob and Rebecca and soon was winning at that as well.
Despite being nearly blind and losing most of her hearing in her later years, she lived independently until 2020. She never had a driver’s license but was able to work most of her adult life. She was always kind, respectful, and courteous to others. She was a strong woman who leaves a legacy of independence, faith, and overcoming obstacles.

Ms. Greene was blessed with four daughters, ten grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. She is survived by her children- Linda Glenn (Sam-deceased) – sons Joe and Dexter, daughters Karin and Cassie, and grandchildren Samantha and Joey; In 1953 she married Hersell Mills (deceased) and they had three children – Shirley Ann Mills Fry (Dwight-deceased) daughter Rebecca and son Jacob; Sandra Mills Stevens (William “Bill”) sons W. Aaron (Courtney), and Adam (deceased) and daughter April Stevens Carmen (Jason), and Brenda Mills Baxter – son Derek (Shay Colby) and daughter Brandi. She had nine great-grandchildren Samantha and Donnie Glenn; Elizabeth “Libby” Stevens McCreary (Jacob), W. Mason Stevens and Noah Stevens, and Skylar, Rowen, and Nixon Baxter.
A funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Monday, April 11, 2022, in the McFarland Funeral Chapel with Reverend Todd Fletcher officiating.
Burial will follow in Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery.

McFarland Funeral Chapel & Crematory
Tryon, NC