Al Green - Sharecropper, Soul Singer, Preacher ~ Born April 13, 1946

 

Although not born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Al moved here in the mid 1950s and his life story is fascinating. To learn more about him, pick up this autobiography published in 2000. Sadly, Grand Rapids has no historic markers or remembrances of any kind for Al Green (that I've been able to find). A letter to the Grand Rapids Historical Society went unanswered.

Memphis does better 😊

In 2016 we were in Memphis and visited the Stax Museum that had a few Al Green items on display.

Whoever curated the display did not do their homework, crediting the wrong 'Grand Rapids' (he didn't move to Minnesota but to Michigan).

The best part of our Memphis trip was visiting the church of the now Bishop A.L. Green.

Suddenly he appeared and broke out in amazing song with that still incredible voice. We later had the chance to walk up to the front and greet him, told him we were from Grand Rapids, and he said he loved us. We love you, too, Al.

Six minute video compilation from the service

St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, 5201 Kraft Ave SE, Grand Rapids MI ~ April 8, 2021

This is a very small cemetery we've driven by several times on our way to the Ford Airport viewing area. This time we stopped to look around. Not being Catholic, and not knowing saints, the best I can figure out is that this is named after Saint Mary Joseph Rosello, who was instrumental in the formation of the Institute of the Daughters of Mercy. She lived, worked, and died in Italy (1888), and was canonized in 1949. My assumption is based solely on the death year of this monument.

The cemetery is old with many Irish Catholics as residents.

Veterans

A young Eagle scout whose grave is well-visited as he was well-loved.

A mystery plot

The baby graves are always the saddest.

"Our love goes with you and our souls wait to join you."

A good father and a good mother at rest.

A rusting marker with a resting stone.

More resting stones and markers for the Reardon family.

A tree stump stone for John (no WOW or MWA logos) and a Celtic cross behind him for the Troy family.

Lots of IHS logos (first three Greek letters of Jesus and/or the Latinized version of the Greek letters (Iesus Hominum Salvator (Jesus Savior of humankind).

Keeping the lamp lit (Matthew 25).

A buried urn.

A repaired stone with maybe a missing stone behind it.

The verse found on this stone was a mystery to us.

"Dart about as sparks through stubble. WIS 3:7 " but any Catholic will probably know it (the Catholic Bible contains seven books the Protestant Bible does not).

Respect to everyone regardless of which way he or she leans.