FRANKFORT, Ky. — A friend, musician and middle school teacher’s legacy lives on through former students in Frankfort.
“Perfectly meshed” is how Su Sheridan described her friendship in and out of the classroom with Elkhorn Middle School’s former choir teacher, the late Damon Greene.
”Mr. Greene, when we first met ... we shared students, and I would say, ‘I have a student here, and I think they can sing. But more than that, I think they need your class,’" Sheridan said.
An art teacher for more than 20 years, Sheridan said she shared Greene’s passion for helping students beyond the classroom.
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“Damon was there for you from when you were in middle school and met him and beyond,” Sheridan said. “But I think that Damon’s great gift involved the whole student and their lives and their future.”
A Woodford County native, Greene traveled a small distance up the road to attend Kentucky State University, where he graduated with his bachelor’s in music education. Greene, who was a member of the First Baptist Church in Versailles, Kentucky, served as the minister of music for 26 years in addition to music director at KSU.
Green battled cancer twice and lost his fight April 6, 2020. He was 50.
Greene’s accomplishments landed him an honor in the Woodford County High School Teachers Hall of Fame, a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People award and more.
“I lost my mother to cancer, and it was about five years later Greene lost his mother,” said Cathy Crump, Dunbar High School teacher. “He was able to leave his footprint on so many children because I truly believe he was walking through this life with God right beside him, in his smile, his laugh and the way he interacted with all children, whether they were in the choir or not.”
Many said they remember Greene for their annual in-school music history projects, concerts and even trips to sing at Disney World, but it wasn’t just what he had to teach about music. It was often the small words he shared.
“It’s just more than just singing in the choir,” said former student and Kentucky football player Fred Farrier II, who is wearing green cleats the entire year in honor of Greene. “I was right next to him while he was playing the piano and stuff, so I just caught a lot of life lessons.”
The school is honoring Greene with the “Lift Every Voice” scholarship, which helps graduating seniors. Each year, a special football game is held at Benny Watkins Field in his memory, a place where Greene often shared his laughter and smile with the community.
“He was always ready to get a laugh out of all of us, which was just like medicine, something we always needed,” Sheridan said.
Sheridan said his connection with people transcends generations and still missed today.