Uncrowned Community Builders

Betty Gwendolyn Greene, who preferred B. Gwendolyn, is a native Buffalonian who attended local public schools. Although her first name is Betty, she was named after her maternal grandmother, Ms. Greene preferred to use the initial B. and her middle name, Gwendolyn. Ms. Greene was born on April 4, 1922, the oldest daughter of Theresa Anderson Greene Evans and William James Greene, Jr.

Miss Greene was a 1935 graduate of Public School 17, and a 1939 graduate of Lafayette High School in Buffalo, New York. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia State University in 1943. Immediately after graduation, she remained at the college for several years to serve as a member of the faculty working with the Dean of Women. Before returning to school for the Master's Degree, Miss Greene worked with girls at the Buffalo Urban League for six years.

Miss Green also directed the playground at Publc School 32 and served for several summers as counselor at Cradle Beach Camp of the Fresh Air Mission. She earned a scholarship from the Gamma Kappa Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and a two-year fellowship grant, the Juliette Derricotte Award for study in social work by the National organization of the sorority.

She received a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1952. Ms. Greene completed additional coursework at both the University of Michigan and University at Buffalo. She worked as a group worker for the Buffalo Urban League. Following this position, she was Program Director in Residential Treatment of disturbed children for the Children's Aid Society (Child and Family Services). She also was Program Director for the Huntington House of Syracuse where she was assigned to the organization's family group work agency. In 1972, Ms. Greene accepted the position of director of Service to Military Families & Veterans with the Greater Buffalo Chapter of the American Red Cross. During the Vietnam War, she managed a staff of more than 50 people, and was instrumental in delivering tapes and telegrams to service members and their families. She retired from the Red Cross in 1984, but remained active as a volunteer. She served as a trustee from 2001 until her death.

Ms. Greene was a member of the Board of the Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier, Inc. She was also a member of the National Association of Social Workers; and was past Director of the YWCA Youth Department that served all area high school clubs. She was selected by the National YWCA to participate in the Latin-American/USA project to do leadership exchange in four South American countries. In this capacity she was responsible for training. she also served as a board member of the Child Care Council, the YWCA, the Council of Churches, Gateway Home for Children, Camp Fire Boys and Girls (President), the National Board - Camp Fire Boys and Girls, the National Board - American Red Cross Retirees Association, and the Trustee Boards of Lincoln Memorial United Methodist Church and Humboldt Parkway Baptist Church. Ms. Greene was a founding member of the local chapter and very active in her beloved sorority, Buffalo Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta.

In addition to being listed in Who's Who of American Women and Who's Who of American Service Professionals, Ms. Greene has received numerous service and appreciation awards including the Buffalo Common Council Award for Community Service; Camp Fire Council, Friend of Children Award; YWCA, Professional Service Award; Children's Aid Society, Outstanding Performance Award; Buffalo Urban League, Professional Award for Service to Youth in Treatment; NAACP, Human Relations Award; NCCJ, Brotherhood Award for Community Service; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. award for fifty years of service; Camp Fire National Board Service Award; Boy Scout Council Appreciation Award; American Red Cross Appreciation Award; Buffalo Museum of Science Appreciation Award; and the YWCA Volunteer Award. She also was a recipient of the William Wells Brown Award from the Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier, Inc.

Ms. Greene was related to three other Uncrowned Queens: Bettie S. Anderson, grandmother; Theresa G. Evans, mother; and Theresa Greene Reed, M.D., sister.