Melba Greene Haas

Melba H. Greene Haas, 85, of Hudson, N.C., was promoted to her Heavenly home on Thursday, February 27, from her residence. She struggled through her last several years on earth as she battled chronic lymphocytic leukemia and dementia. However, through it all, she never forgot her Saviour, Jesus Christ. He is now her eternal caretaker and she could not be in better hands. She left behind her husband of 64 years and four months, Edgar Haas; one daughter, Anita M. Haas of Hudson; one son, Keith A. Haas of Hudson; and two cherished grandsons, Toby Keith Haas and Tory Ray Haas of Lenoir, N.C. She was known as “Grandma Three” to Conner, Bailey, and Kennedy Hayes and as “Mama Melba” to many others. Additionally, she is survived by a brother, C.T. Greene and wife Joleen of Hudson, and two sisters, Shirley Herman and husband Carl of Hudson and Glenda Little of Stafford, Virginia, and a sister-in-law, Allene B. Haas of Lenoir. She has eleven surviving nieces, four nephews, and a host of cousins and extended relatives. Melba was born on May 19, 1934, to Glen T. and Edna Cook Greene in the Blue Ridge Township in the Bamboo section of Watauga County, N.C. She started school at Bamboo then moved to Lenoir and attended Old Houck School until the buses were able to take students to Gamewell. She graduated in the 1953 class of Gamewell High School. After school, she worked at the South Mountain Orphanage, Dr. A.F. Lupes’ office, and Dula Hospital. In 1955, she married Edgar Haas and they have made their home in Hudson since 1957. She is currently a member of Blue Ridge Baptist Church in Whitnel, N.C., and was a former member of Fellowship Baptist and Poovey’s Chapel Baptist in Hudson and Calvary, Pisgah, and Setzer Creek Baptist churches in Lenoir, and Mount Vernon Baptist in Boone, N.C. Melba enjoyed Bible studies, prayer groups, keeping children in her home, and letting others know that Jesus Christ was very special to her. She volunteered for several years at the Pregnancy Care Center in Whitnel and traveled as a babysitter for the Hayes Family (a singing group from Boone), and she often referred to those years as some of the best ones in her life. Melba was a great cook, homemaker, babysitter, and seamstress. She did all the yard work at home because she was much better at it than Edgar! She enjoyed doing things for others and helping where there was a need. If you would like to remember Melba in a special way, then . . . surprise a stranger with an act of kindness, hold a child in your arms, do something for someone in need, write a note to a friend, go visit some elderly folks, help somebody with chores, take a meal to a family, do some yard work for those who cannot do it anymore, share a memory of her with her grandsons, pay a bill for another person, pray for the needs around you, tell some people about Jesus, and do what you can, where you can, with what you have to show people that you care. A celebration of Melba’s life will be held on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at Poovey’s Chapel Baptist Church at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow the service at Blue Ridge Memorial Park. The family will receive friends in the Chapel of Evans Funeral Service on Friday, February 28, 2020 from 4:00 until 6:00 PM and again on Saturday morning from 10:00 until 11:00 at the church.