Services set for James Green, former PNGISD board member, finance manager

Published 1:04 pm Friday, September 29, 2017

James Green, who served as a board member and as business manager for Port Neches-Groves Independent School District, died on Wednesday.

He was 79.

Green, of Groves, was well known in the community having worked at First National Bank of Port Arthur, Mid County Bank and Trust in Port Neches and for his 17 years of service with the school district as business manager. After retirement, he helped start Texas Autoworks Collision Center in Bridge City along with his son-in-law, Zaron LaBarge, and was vice-president there for 15 years.

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PNGISD Interim Superintendent Jimmy Creel first met Green when Creel arrived at the district in 1999.

“Mr. Green served the students and staff of this district for many years in a variety of roles as the business manager and as a board member.  James Green was a man of integrity and high standards,” Creel said. “I always had complete confidence that James Green always made sure that we were in compliance with the law and that financial decisions were made with the highest moral standards in mind.  He was committed to finding ways to help our staff and support our students in a way that reflected prudent stewardship of taxpayer resources. James Green made a difference for this district and for those of us who had the privilege of working with him.”

Besides his keen business skills, Green showed he was a loving family man. Granddaughter Lacey Williams called him an “incredible man.”

“We were the luckiest children to have him as our grandfather,” Williams said. “We will miss him terribly but we know that we all now have the best guardian angel we could ask for.”

Green’s Facebook page was flooded with condolences and friends have begun to sign the internet guestbook on Levingston Funeral Home’s webpage.

James Earl Green was born in Malvern, Arkansas and a resident of the Port Arthur and Groves area. He member of Friendship Baptist Church of Groves where he was a former deacon and also served in many organizations and held many offices there. He also was a member of the Groves Masonic Lodge No. 1315 A.F.

He graduated from Port Neches High School in 1956 and was a 1970 graduate of Lamar University with a BBA degree in general business.

In addition, he served in Company B, 111th Engineer Battalion of the Texas National Guard for eight years. He was registered in Texas as a Tax Assessor-Collector and held a Texas Real Estate license.

He loved traveling, especially going camping and taking Caravan Bus Tours with his wife to different states in the United States.

He is survived by his wife, Sue Ann Green; son, David E. Green and wife Tina, daughter, Amanda S. LaBarge and husband Zarron, both of Orange; and step-son Gregory M. Williams of Joshua, Texas. He was Paw Paw James to his four grandchildren, Lacey and Taylor Williams of Arlington, and Charlie and James Williams of Joshua, Texas.

He was also survived by sister Cheryl L. Neel and husband Carl of Port Neches, brothers Bob D. Green and wife Delores of Groves, Steve A. Green and wife Margaret of Buna, and Raymond Green and wife Angie of Crosby, and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Saturday at the Church with the Reverend Travis Cox officiating. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Levingston Funeral Home in Groves.

Friends wishing to make memorial contributions may send them to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Shriners Children’s Hospital, or Friendship Baptist Church.