GRETA VERONICA (THOMAS) HINES

GRETA VERONICA THOMAS, WAS THE ONLY CHILD BORN TO VIOLET THOMAS ON MAY 19, 1933 IN SPANISH TOWN. SHE WAS BORN ON THE PICTURESQUE ISLAND OF JAMAICA, WEST INDIES. THIS PETITE STATURE OF A MARVELOUS WOMAN WAS BLESSED WITH A HAPPY DISPOSITION UNSELFISH, SPIRIT, QUIET CHARACTER, AND AN EXTRAORDINARY SENSE OF HUMOR. GRETA POSSESSED NOT ONLY PULCHRITUDE, BUT INTELLECT AS WELL.

SHE STUDIED HARD AND COMPLETED HER ELEMENTARY EDUCATION TO GAIN ENTRANCE INTO KINGSWAY HIGH SCHOOL IN KINGSTON, JAMAICA. THERE, SHE SERVED AS HEAD GIRL. SHE CONTINUED TO WORK HARD AND EVENTUALLY EXCELLED TO ACHIEVE HER ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE BY PASSING HER SENIOR CAMBRIDGE EXAMINATION. WHILE ATTENDING KINGSWAY HIGH SCHOOL SHE BOARDED WITH SISTER AEPHAS WHO CREATED A COMFORTABLE HOME ENVIRONMENT ALLOWING GRETA TO FOCUS ON HER STUDIES.

THE THIRST FOR FURTHER ACADEMIC CHALLENGE LED TO THE GATEWAY OF WEST INDIAN TRAINING COLLEGE, NOW NORTHERN CARIBBEAN UNIVERSITY (NCU). AFTER A FOUR YEAR TENURE SHE ACHIEVED HER DIPLOMA AND GRADUATED IN 1956.

IT WAS NO SURPRISE WHEN NOT LONG AFTER HER GRADUATION, SHE WAS ON HER TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO STUDY AT EMMANUEL MISSIONARY COLLEGE IN BERRIEN SPRINGS, MICHIGAN, NOW KNOW AS ANDREWS UNIVERSITY. SHE EARNED HER BACHELORS DEGREE IN 1962 AND HER MASTERS DEGREE IN EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION IN1964.

HER ENTRY INTO THE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL TEACHING FORCE BEGAN WITH THE CALL TO BE PRINCIPAL OF DAYTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, RUN BY THE LOCAL SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH. AFTER SERVING FOUR YEARS IN THIS CAPACITY, SHE WAS CALLED TO BE PRINCIPAL OF A KINDERGARTEN TO TENTH GRADE SCHOOL NAMED RAMAH JUNIOR ACADEMY IN CLEVELAND, OHIO. THIS WAS HER LONGEST SERVICE WITHIN THAT CHURCH SCHOOL SYSTEM. SHE SPENT ONE YEAR IN CLEVELAND PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AS A TEACHER.

IN 1963, THE COURTSHIP OF CLAUDE C. HINES AND GRETA V. THOMAS LEAD TO THEIR HOLY MATRIMONY AT THE GLENVILLE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH IN CLEVELAND, OHIO ON JULY 18TH. THE UNION WAS PERFORMED UNDER THE SPIRITED GUIDANCE OF PASTOR AARON N, BROGDEN. GRETA WAS BEAUTIFUL BRIDE AND CLAUDE WAS A DASHING GROOM.

IN 1968, HER HUSBAND'S INTEREST IN PURSUING HIS EDUCATION CREATED A TRANSITION FROM OHIO TO MICHIGAN TO ATTEND ANDREW'S UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF EDUCATION. THUS, SHE BEGAN HER TEACHING CAREER IN THE BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOL SYSTEM, AT CALVIN BRITAIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. HER IMPECCABLE STYLE OF CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT WAS ABOVE CRITICISM. AFTER TEACHING TWO YEARS IN THE CLASSROOM, SHE WAS ASKED TO TAKE ON AN ADMINISTRATION JOB OF A NEWLY ESTABLISHED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT. GRETA IN COLLABORATION WITH PARENTS, CAME UP WITH NAME MARTIN LUTHER KING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

DURING HER TIME AT MARTIN LUTHER KING SCHOOL, THE HINES FAMILY EXPANDED. A BUNDLE OF JOY GRACED THEIR HOME. MOTHERHOOD BECAME A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR GRETA. THE BABY GIRL, WHOM THEY NAMED, MICHELLE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR FAMILY STRUCTURE AND ENRICHED THEIR FAMILY AND SPIRITUAL JOURNEY TOGETHER.

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