The Florissant Church of Christ was completely filled on Monday for the funeral service of Ernest Green III, deputy chief of the University City Police Department, who passed away Monday, Dec. 20 at the age of 46.
The church, where Green was a member, was filled with people who wished to express their appreciation for the deceased and show support for his family. Church staff had to set up more chairs in the auditorium, and several people stood in the back of the church during the service.
Friends of Green’s family and his colleagues spoke about his outstanding character and his many achievements as a national leader in law enforcement.
“We cannot help but to be troubled about losing a loved one,” said Min. Thomas Jackson, who gave the eulogy. “But we’ve come to celebrate my good friend Ernest Green.”
Patrick Melvin, national president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), spoke on behalf of the organization. Green served as the immediate past national president of NOBLE and the past president of the St. Louis chapter.
“I hope to follow my NOBLE brother as he ascended to a better place,” Melvin said. “He will be missed, and he was definitely a noble man.”
Melvin knew Green well. They sat next to each other during NOBLE meetings when Melvin served as Region 6 vice president and Green served as Region 5 vice president.
Mike Ransom, a University City Police captain, was a close colleague of Green’s. He spoke about Green on behalf of the department and gave words of comfort for Green’s wife of 18 years, Alicia, and his two sons, Ernest Green IV and Ellis Green.
“This is truly a celebration, because Ernest had hope in Christ,” Ransom said.
Green’s faith was a theme that was affirmed repeatedly.
“He died still standing because he leaned on the staff of his faith,” said David Lane of Ferguson Heights Church of Christ.
Min. Thomas Jackson was one of Green’s closest friends. When Green was about to become the national president of NOBLE, he talked with Jackson and asked him to become chaplain for the organization, a capacity in which Jackson still serves. Jackson spoke often of their friendship during the eulogy and illustrated why Green was such a good friend.
“I’ve never had to talk about a friend like this,” Jackson said. “You get a life full of associates, but you only get a handful of friends and Ernest was my friend.”
Jackson told the large congregation about a time when he was speaking during a church service and a man came up to the pulpit and disrupted the service. Green, with his background in law enforcement, got up in the pulpit and stood beside Jackson for the rest of the service to make sure Jackson would not be harmed.
Jackson also was a support for Green when he was diagnosed with cancer. They began to have lunch and dinner on a regular basis and were a support for each other spiritually.
“Jesus is a friend of Ernest, and Ernest is a friend of Jesus,” Jackson said.
“I want you to know that even in the loss of a husband, father, uncle or brother, we don’t have to be distracted because God has already given Ernest the victory.”
After the funeral service, Green was laid to rest at Laurel Hill Cemetery.
Green was a graduate of University City High School, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Truman State University and spent 21 years with the University City Police Department.
