Tribute to Tony Greene
For those who know Tony and Taranda Greene, today is a sad day. I do not know them personally but, as someone who’s listened to the Greenes for 25 years, I will miss Tony as well.
The first time I saw Tony was in 1993 at an outdoor concert where the Greenes performed with the Hoppers, the Bishops and several lesser known groups and artists. Having never seen the Greenes in person before, I enjoyed watching Tim and Tony’s interaction with each other and the way they poured their heart out for the few people who were at that concert. (Besides my family, I don’t think I’m exaggerating to say everyone else there were performers on the program.) My sister, who was 7 at the time, had on a shirt that matched Tony’s. She pointed it out to him and he was so sweet and took time to make a big deal about it which made her feel special.
Later on, I heard that he was engaged to a lady named Taranda and, when they married, I was happy for them. In a lot of ways, theirs seemed like a story out of a book. It’s been a blessing to watch their family grow with the addition of Belle and Josie. We’ve laughed and cried with them and prayed for them often the last few years but the family will need us to continue to lift them up in prayer. I can only imagine the heartache they are facing but I trust God to wrap His arms around them and carry them through this difficult time.
I was blessed to see Tony perform with the Greenes at the National Quartet Convention this month. The picture above was taken as they sang “Whole Lot of Heaven in the House.” I bet Tony can sing that with even more energy now.
It’s hard to understand God’s timing in taking His children Home but I trust Him. Life really is like a vapor–here today and gone tomorrow–but, as we hold to God’s unchanging hand, we don’t have to fear. Whether it’s our time to go or our dear loved one’s, His grace is there when we need it. He is there to take His child Home and comfort those who are left behind until the day we join them in an environment that we can now only imagine.
As Tim Greene and Phil Cross wrote, “I don’t have to know the reasons. I don’t have to ask Him why. I know He knows what’s best for me, best for my life. So I’ll daily surrender to what He has for me. I will keep on trusting God.” (“I Don’t Have to Know” from The Greenes’ Glimpse of Glory CD)
Last year I had just lost my job when my wife and I went to dolly wood to see the Greenes. They came out and were wonderful. I am very blessed to call Brother Jeff Snyder my friend, so I walked over and told Jeff that I wanted to meet Tony. He walked over and introduced me, I told him about my struggles and even though he had his own problems, he encouraged me to hold on to the hand of God, and that he would see me through. Look back he was right the lord worked things out in his time. Tony Greene will always be a hero of mine, and I know he has seen our Savior, I am kind of jealous, but I will see him and my Lord one day after awhile. My prayers our with his dear family, which he loved so very dearly.
We was in service with Taranda at Valley View Baptist church in tuscaloosa, Al…Great Singer and a anointing that blessed others..