Catherine Burks Greene

May 6, 1944 - October 9, 2012

Mrs. Catherine Burks Greene, age 68 of Nashville, passed away at her residence on Tuesday, October 9, 2012, surrounded by her family.

The family will receive friends at 2:00 PM on Sunday, October 14, 2012 at the West End United Methodist Church. They will celebrate her life with services beginning at 3:00 PM, then hold a reception at the family home following services. Arrangements are under the direction of Heritage Funeral Home.

Mrs. Greene was born May 6, 1944 to James Nottingham Rogers and Frances Elizabeth Poindexter Rogers in Alexandria, Virginia. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee and her Masters of Education from Peabody College.

Following in the footsteps of her maternal grandmother, Catherine felt there was no higher calling than being a teacher. She respected and loved her profession. Catherine taught for the Metro Nashville Public Schools in Bellvue, Rose Park, Wharton, Carter Lawrence, and as an Adjunct Professor of Math at Vanderbilt University.

She earned many awards and grants as a teacher, but was most proud of being nationally selected to represent Tennessee at a NASA space camp for teachers in Huntsville. Catherine was nationally selected as one of twenty-one NEWEST Award winners to attend the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. There she was trained like an astronaut, doing all they did, except travel into space. Later, Catherine was selected for another NASA program at Cal Tech where she wrote lesson plans that were made available to all US science teachers regarding the Mars Rover, Sojourner.

Catherine was blessed with many family and friends, all of whom loved her dearly. She was preceded in death by her father: James N. Rogers, and is survived by her husband: William Otis "W.O." Greene, III; sons: William Otis Greene, IV of Nashville and James Nottingham (Krista Jordan) Greene of Indianapolis, IN; her grandson: Jordan Nottingham Greene; mother: Frances P. Rogers of Nassawadox, VA; sisters: Margaret P. Rogers and Elizabeth J. N. Rogers both of Nassawadox, VA; sisters-in-law: Suelee Moores, Betty Greene, Kim Greene, and Donna Greene; brothers-in-law: Ted Moores, Mike Greene, Nate Greene, and Sam Greene; nieces: Libby, Caroline Greene, and Andrea; and nephews: Nathaniel Greene and Aubrey Greene.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to pancreatic cancer research or the Arthritis Foundation.