John M. Green, Jr.

by Lynn McMillen
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John Merritt Green, Jr.John M. Green, Jr., Franklin, TN business owner and nationally known Scoutmaster, died Saturday October 5th at his home from injuries sustained in a recent fall. He was a native of Franklin, the son of the late Ewing Roberts Green and John M. Green and was a descendant of several early Tennessee families.
He graduated from Battle Ground Academy and volunteered for the Navy at age 17. He served in the Philipines and returned to graduate from Vanderbilt University where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity.
He joined his father’s insurance agency in Franklin, which was founded in 1920 in downtown where it exists today.
He added real estate sales to the business in the early 1960’s and was one of the 5 founders of the Williamson County Board (now Association) of Realtors and was twice president of the organization. Green hired the first female Realtor in Franklin. He was active in many community and church activities and received a number of honors including Franklin Citizen of the Year, The Ann T. Rutherford Exemplary Community Service Volunteer Award, The Williamson County Chamber of Commerce Legend Award and was named a “Significant Sig” by his fraternity plus many other awards and accolades.
He taught Wednesday night and Sunday night Bible classes for over 30 years and was a member of Heritage Church of Christ.
The Franklin Police Department asked him in 1950 to start a Boy Scout Troop for local boys and that began a volunteer career spanning 69 years, making him one of the longest tenured Scoutmasters in the country. He organized Troop 137 with 5 scouts and the troop now has over 100 Scouts and many involved adults. The troop meets on his family farm every week. He has been crediting with encouraging over 225 young men to obtain the rank of Eagle Scout. John was awarded the Long Rifle and Silver Beaver award for his work with Scouting.
The National Association of Realtors chose John for the 2001 Good Neighbor Award. This award was given to him to acknowledge his outstanding contributions to scouting, his church and his community. He was featured in a national TV commercial and enjoyed hearing from friends all over the country that saw it.
He married to Louise Bailey Nunnelly in 1964 and they remained married until her death in 2018. They had two children Leonora Green Clifford (Tony) and John M. Green III and two beloved grandaughters Sarah Bailey Sargent and Katherine Sargent Allen (Benjamin). He is also survived by two nephews Walter Green (Weezy) and Bo Green (Chen Xiu) and several cousins.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, October 12th at 11 at Heritage Church of Christ 1056 Lewisburg Pike, Franklin, TN 37064. Burial will follow immediately at Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Visitation with the family will be from 4 to 8 on Friday, October 11th and one hour prior to the service at Heritage Church of Christ.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Troop 137 P.O. Box 145 Franklin, TN 37064.

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