Lorain NAACP 'Living Black History' program honors longtime educator Jackie Greenhill

LORAIN — Family, friends, church family, well-wishers, former co-workers and students of longtime Lorain educator and community leader Jackie Greenhill showed up Saturday night at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Oberlin Avenue to laud her for her contributions. The honors were part of the Lorain branch of the NAACP's "Living Black History" program. Lynn Wrice-Head of the Lorain NAACP said while Greenhill is retired from the schools where she taught and was an administrator for 37 years, she is most-certainly "not retired" as she continues to "advocate and agitate" for issues close to her and the community — always with a smile on her face. The Lorain NAACP presented Greenhill with a certificate of recognition that, Wrice-Head said, thanked her "for your contribution to living Black history and your impact on your shared history and community well-being." "We just thank you, we love you, we appreciate all that you do," Wrice-Head told Greenhill, embracing her. Greenhill thanked everyone for showing up Saturday and always does what she can to "help somebody along the way." "I appreciate you and I thank you," she said. Greenhill moved to Lorain as a toddler, attended Lorain Schools and graduated from Admiral King High School. She would go on to get an associate's degree from Lorain County Community College, a bachelor's degree in elementary and special education from the University of Akron, and a master's degree in administration and supervision from Baldwin-Wallace College, now known as Baldwin Wallace University. Greenhill taught and was an administrator in Lorain Schools for 37 years before she retired. She received numerous awards during her time there and since. Greenhill also is one of the co-founders of the nonprofit Harrison Cultural Community Centre on Hamilton Avenue in Lorain, which was established in 1993 as a secure Afro-centric/multicultural environment for educational, recreational and social services needs of children and families. Those present Saturday heaped praise on Greenhill no only for her involvement in the community but also her character and attitude — as the old saying goes, "giving her her flowers while she's still alive." Greenhill was called a great listener. Someone who always has time for you. Both demanding, but also giving of respect. A great friend and sister. A wealth of information. Loving. Humble. "Shining." "Real." A member of Wesley United Methodist Church on West Seventh Street in Lorain, she is a leader in her congregation who feeds the hungry and puts on health seminars and programs. The Rev. Michael Howard joked that when he first joined the church he was nervous and felt like he had been called before "a tribunal," but Greenhill put him at ease with her "bright Kool-Aid effervescent smile." "Well done, good and faithful servant" Howard told his parishoner. Friend and former colleague Idajeanne Brown said even after she retired, Greenhill cooked for her, shared recipes and always kept in touch with emails, jokes and cards. "She is very dear to me, and I claim her as my family," Brown said. "She is the perfect family member." Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.