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| Big Chief Cyril "Iron Horse" Green, 2004. Photo by Eric Waters. |
Big Chief Cyril “Iron Horse” Green of the Black Seminoles died unexpectedly of natural causes on March 20, 2013 hours after celebrating St. Joseph Night by visiting and singing with his friends and fellow Big Chiefs.
Cyril was born to Joanne (Williams) Goodman and the late Dominick (Jesse) A. Goodman August 26, 1966, the sixth child and fifth son of nine children.
Cyril was educated in the New Orleans Public School System at Valena C. Jones Elementary, Andrew J. Bell Junior High, and Nicholls Senior High Schools. He went on to earn a Associate Degree in Computer Science from Delgado Community College.
An active member of his community, Cyril dedicated his time with various organizations including the New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians as ‘Big Chief Iron Horse’ of the Black Seminoles Indian Tribe. His journey began as Second Chief of the Flaming Arrows in 1992. The following year, he joined the Young Cheyenne Indian Tribe as their Second Chief. Cyril later formed his own tribe, the Black Seminoles. As part of his service within the community Cyril performed several years at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and visited area schools were he shared his knowledge and cultural teachings with our youth. He was the first Big Chief to mask in a wheelchair.
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| Big Chief Cyril "Iron Horse" Green (on right with tamborine) at the 2008 Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame reception at Basin Street Station. Photo by Eric Waters |
He is preceded in death by his father Dominick ‘Jesse’ Goodman, and two brothers, Wendell and Toby Goodman. He is survived by his mother, Joanne Goodman, a sister Troylynn (James) Morse, Deangello Goodman, Michael (Tara) Williams, Nathaniel Green, Terrel (Evelyn) Goodman, Ryan (Crystal) Goodman, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Relatives, friends, priest and parishioners of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, members of Black Seminole Tribe and all Mardi Gras Indian Tribes are invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 1835 St. Roch Ave beginning 11 am. Rev. Anthony A. Anala, S.V.D. celebrant. Church visitation 10 am until service time.
The family of Cyril Green has requested that there be no photography in the church during the services. Please honor this request and be respectful of Mardi Gras Indian grieving and funeral rituals outside of the church. Videographers and photographers are requested to remain mindful and conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. Please do not interfere in ritual space while seeking "the perfect shot."
You may make a secure and tax-deductible donation Big Chief Cyril Green's burial fund through the Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame fiduciary agent, National Performance Network. You must select Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame from the drop down menu and include "burial fund" in note section.
For more information about going home ceremonies honoring the life of Big Chief Cyril Green, contact family member, Michael Goodman at (404) 951-1870 or Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame Curator, Cherice Harrison-Nelson at (504) 214-6630.
Links:
Big Chief Cyril 'Iron Horse' Green Becomes Ancestor
NOLA Defender |
Cyril 'Big Chief Ironhorse' Green, leader of the Black Seminoles, dies at 46
by John Pope, NOLA.com | Times-Picayune, Wednesday, March 27, 2013
