The Friends of the Christmas Parade have named Doug Green as the 2025 Belleview Christmas Parade Grand Marshal — a fitting honor for a man who has spent nearly half a century serving the Belleview community with humility, faith, and heart.
Doug and his wife, Maudie, first arrived in Belleview on October 31, 1979. They moved into the staff house at First Baptist Church after Doug was called to serve as Minister of Education by Rev. Damon Walker. At the time, the church was growing rapidly, and Doug became its only full-time staff member, helping to guide programs and shape the ministry that still flourishes today.
Born in his grandmother’s house in Whistler, Alabama, just outside Mobile, Doug’s path to ministry wasn’t straightforward. He graduated from Murphy High School in 1957, attended Marion Military Institute, and served 16 years in the artillery unit, where he rose to the rank of sergeant. Before entering the ministry, he spent a decade as a barber — a job he still fondly remembers for the conversations it sparked and the people he met. Eventually, Doug followed his calling and earned his degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s School of Religious Education.
When Doug and Maudie moved to Belleview, they knew they had found home. “The Lord wanted me here,” he once said, and Belleview couldn’t agree more. Over the next 18 years, he faithfully served the church and the wider community. He later joined Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services as chaplain and funeral attendant, comforting families through some of life’s hardest moments for 25 years.
But Doug’s service extended far beyond the pulpit and the funeral home. In 1980, then–Fire Chief Phil Thompson invited him to serve as chaplain for the Belleview Volunteer Fire Department. Doug accepted and became a beloved figure among local firefighters, often joining them on calls and community projects. When the fire department transitioned from volunteer to paid, he stayed involved, helping them through difficult losses.
In 1984, Police Chief Bob Howle asked Doug to become the chaplain for the Belleview Police Department — a role he still proudly holds more than 40 years later. He’s been a steady source of comfort and counsel, riding along on difficult calls, performing countless weddings, funerals, and memorial services, and reminding officers that their work is a ministry in itself. He also volunteered as chaplain for the Ocala Police Department for 26 years. Doug has even contributed to The Voice of South Marion, writing articles and taking photographs.
Maudie, equally dedicated to the community, worked as the first full-time secretary for First Baptist Church and later at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Home. She also served on the Belleview Planning and Zoning Board during the city’s formative years. Together, the couple has three children — Becky, Debbie, and Bob — and a granddaughter who, years ago, was proud to say her grandpa made the best chocolate chip waffles in town.
Doug’s ties to Belleview grew stronger with every passing decade. He recalls when the city had just one stoplight at 441 and 484, and how the opening of McDonald’s, Burger King, and Publix marked milestones of growth. He’s watched The Voice of South Marion evolve from a small home office to a full newsroom, and the fire department grow from a volunteer to professional force.
Green will be on full display this December, as he leads the Belleview Christmas Parade — not just as a Grand Marshal, but as a living reminder of what community and faith can build.
