Cassandra R. Green

With profound sadness and immense love, we say goodbye to Cassandra Renee’ Green, who passed away on her forty-fifth (45) birthday, Friday, August 23, 2024 at UW Medicine |Valley Medical Center in Renton, WA with her family by her side.

Cassandra Renee’ Green, daughter of Charlotte (Davis) Green and Willie Nathaniel Green, was born August 23, 1979, in Beaumont, Texas. She attended Blanchette Elementary and Odom Middle School in the Pear Orchard Community.  She enjoyed the company of friends and cousins in the Virginia Manor Estates neighborhood and spent hours at Sprott “the big” Park.  She could also be found with her siblings at the “Candy & Kool-Cup lady house”! At an early age she professed her faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized at Sunlight Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. G.W. Daniels.  It was there, Cassandra received her foundation of salvation while actively participating in Sunday School, Baptist Training Union (BTU), various youth ministries (including sunshine band, choir) and her favorite summer highlight, vacation bible school (VBS).    

Following her father's military deployment in the Gulf War Operation Desert Storm/Shield, Cassandra (grudgingly) relocated to Washington State with her family in 1992.  Moving across the country to the Pacific Northwest during her teen years wasn’t easy.  She dearly missed relationships, sunshine/warm weather, and culture from her beloved Texas, the home state.  Eventually, she secured meaningful lifelong friendships while attending schools north of Seattle in Brier, Mountlake Terrace, and Lynnwood.  She graduated from Meadowdale High School in 1998 and went on to obtain various certifications from Everest Dental and Green River Community Colleges.     

Cassandra maintained an active Christian relationship holding membership at churches in Seattle including Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church, Greater New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, and Mars Hill Church | Rainier Valley.  She continued her faith walk at Church For All (CFA) in Federal Way, WA, under the leadership of Pastors Matt and Kim Lagerquist, and passionately served in women's ministries, prayer groups, and was affectionately known as “Mama C” - youth advocate.    

Her love for the community expanded in 2017 when she began her role as a crew leader in GirlTrek-Seattle.  This sisterhood gave her peace in nature, offered life skill opportunities, and a shared expression to live out loud with other like-minded women. Cassandra began as a temporary mail clerk employee and worked faithfully at Kaiser Permanente, formally Group Health Cooperative. During her 10+ year tenure, she participated in various employee resource groups, and was known for her gorgeous smile and loving presence that lit up every room.  She was a campus favorite amongst staff and vendors, an avid smoothie enthusiast, motivator for healthy lifestyle changes, and a proud Dallas Cowboys Fan! 

As a parent, Cassandra was hands-on, vocal and heavily involved in Kent Schools PTA.  She worked on various committees until 2023 when her third child graduated high school.  Offering words of encouragement to single moms, community resource referrals, participating in weekend hikes/walks, she was eager to share lessons from personal experiences. Sometimes those conversations would be harsh.  Those who really knew Cassandra, understood that if you wanted the truth, do NOT step to her with soft feelings; she poured raw and truthful.  She will always hold the OFFICIAL title as the LIFE OF THE PARTY!  Everyone loved her youthful spirit, contagious enthusiasm, and spit-fire personality. Her love and reenactment of black cinema classics, loud (expected) outburst during EVERY family gathering cannot be replaced and shall remain timeless. 

Cassandra fought a courageous battle after being diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, (NUT carcinoma) and WON. Although most were caught off guard by her untimely transition, “Cassie” chose to remain in solitude.  She didn’t want pity or overbearing emotions of concern.  Instead, she raced against time to enjoy spontaneous moments of joy.  During the last weeks of uncertainty, she shared simple pleasures with her close-knit family with appreciation, and unconditional love. She is now free from all pain, stress and has made her entrance in heaven's gates.  She is preceded in death by her older brother Cornell Undre’ Green who perished in 1995.  To cherish her loving memory, she leaves parents, Willie and Charlotte Green; two daughters Ki’Andrea Green, Bre’Aunna Parnell; one son, Jae’Don Parnell; one grandson, precious six month old Davon Mwezi Dilworth; one sister Erica Headen (Kevin); two nephews, Caleb and Aaron Headen; co-parent, Brandon Parnell; God-Children, the Chaffer Family: Karis, Chris, Kiana, Kacey, Quia; a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, and extended family, friends and community members who will miss her dearly.   

Psalm 150 

Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.

Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.

Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.

Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

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The Dash

by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
from the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what’s true and real
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read,
with your life’s actions to rehash…
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent YOUR dash?

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