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Juanita Green Hollinghead
Author
New Release
Beyond the Green Widow:
Consequences of the Piney Woods Creek Murders of 1921.
By Juanita Green Hollinghead
with
Sherye S. Green
Prohibition began as a well-intentioned and earnest effort by politicians and temperance movement leaders to stem the tide of evils threatening Americans due to the use of alcohol. However, none could have envisioned how differently and disastrously the period would end. Former President Herbert Hoover referred to Prohibition as "the great social and economic experiment." The good intentions inspiring these thirteen years were juxtaposed with the rise of the very criminal acts that the Volstead Act sought to curtail.
The evils of the Prohibition period rocked the citizens of two sleepy little Mississippi towns, Leakesville and Richton, to their cores. U.S. Treasury Special Agent Jacob "Jake" Francis Green and Richton Town Marshal Lawrence Dunnam were gunned down on April Fool's Day of 1921 when attempting to shut down an illegal moonshine still and arrest its operators. Little did the officers know that four men were waiting to murder them. Someone had tipped off the moonshiners. From that day on, the trajectory of the lives of members of these two families took a markedly different path.
As Jake Green's youngest grandchild, author Juanita Green Hollinghead’s quest for the truth led her on a journey of discovery that became her life's mission. The facts she has uncovered are astounding as she brings to life this riveting account of the true-crime event that shaped her family’s history. Perhaps other survivors want to understand better the process of how and where to find clues to the truth of their families' tragic events.
Arrixie Garretson Sproul Interim Director of Greene County Museum “An engaging story about the journey Juanita takes to uncover the mysterious shroud surrounding the murder of her grandfather, Jake Green. Through tireless research and perseverance, she pieces together the full puzzle of her family history. This book provides valuable insight into the history of the prohibition era in Greene County.” Arrixie Garretson Sproul Interim Director of Greene County Museum
Jo Ann C. Kocher, ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge (retired) First Female ATF Special Agent Former President, ATF Association “In 1972, when I applied to be an ATF Special Agent, one of the people who interviewed me said that ATF had more of its agents killed than any other federal agency. He explained that most of these deaths occurred during the time that the predecessors of today’s ATF investigated moonshine stills. Though I never had the opportunity to work on this type of case, Juanita Hollinghead’s well-researched and well-written book, Beyond the Green Widow, allowed a fascinating glimpse into that world. In addition to writing about the murder of her grandfather, Hollinghead provides a unique and complete overview of the investigation and prosecution of the men who killed her grandfather. An added benefit is the insight into how this crime affected her family and how she discovered and developed a wealth of pertinent information, some over a century old.” Jo Ann C. Kocher, ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge (retired) First Female ATF Special Agent Former President, ATF Association
Arthur Killebrew Could not put it down!!! Reads like a novel. The trial’s of each murderer especially and the aftermath really places the reader back in the 1920’s depression era South. So many unexpected surprise turns. The author’s closing challenge to everyone to know and share their own family story is poignant after reading this one!
Praise & Reviews
Joey Miles, Agent-in-Charge
Mississippi Alcoholic Beverage Control
“I was so impressed with the book. The research and detail was amazing. If not for your and Juanita’s efforts, I would have completed my thirty-two-year career in alcohol law enforcement and not know about the murder of these two fine men. This book definitely gets two thumbs up!!! Well done, ladies!!!!”
Shan L. Kirk Senior Special Agent – Retired United States Secret Service “Law enforcement, whether federal, state, or local, is inherently dangerous for the professionals who perform their responsibilities. Juanita Hollinghead personally understands this as she poignantly tells the story of her grandfather’s career and ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty and honor. We professionals willingly choose this career to protect our families, communities, and country. Beyond the Green Widow: Consequences of the Piney Woods Creek Murders of 1921 provides a heartfelt true story of sacrifice and the danger facing all law enforcement and the effect on their families. Juanita Hollinghead’s and Sherye Green’s presentation is impactful in its detail of the costs of duty. It underscores how the impact of a law enforcement professional’s death in the line of duty reverberates for generations on the families and communities who endure it. This book is a must-read story that honors and cements this sacrifice. We must never forget!” Shan L. Kirk Senior Special Agent – Retired United States Secret Service
Renee Freeman An engaging historical account! I got so invested in this book! At times I could feel myself being pulled into the past and feeling the sadness, angst, and pain of the past. Other times I rallied with the writer to find just one more piece of evidence. I love reading and this is definitely a must-read. It puts in perspective how every decision or action made causes a ripple effect that changes the lives of many.
James Langley ATF Association of Retirees Executive Director “Beyond the Green Widow: Consequences of the Piney Woods Creek Murders of 1921 is a fantastic read and a wonderful tribute to heroes gunned down in their prime by Mississippi moonshiners. Juanita Green Hollinghead weaves a fantastic story detailing her research and dogged determination to discover the facts about her grandfather, Jacob Green’s, murder. Green was a Special Agent of the Internal Revenue Service “Prohibition Unit.” Today, this “unit” is known as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Green, along with Richton Mississippi Town Marshal Lawrence Dunnam, was murdered during a raid on an illegal liquor still deep in the southern Mississippi woods. As a retired ATF Special Agent myself, I applaud the writer for her commitment, perseverance and determination to recognize the heroic efforts of her ancestor and Marshal Dunnam. Too often, those who have come before us and made the ultimate sacrifice are overlooked. Forgotten by today’s hustle and bustle and the ever-changing headlines. Today’s ATF Special Agents are no longer raiding stills and chasing moonshiners. The product has changed. Today, ATF Special Agents are pursuing gun smugglers, bomb makers, drug dealers, and the most violent criminals on the street. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has a rich history of enforcing unpopular laws, often, as Juanita Green Hollinghead discovers, to the detriment of its agents and their families. Thank you, Juanita Green Hollinghead, for taking the time to pen this tribute to the heroes that came before.” James Langley ATF Association of Retirees Executive Director
James Arrington Goff The News-Commercial Our South Magazine “When a law officer dies in the line of duty, it affects not only his or her family but the community as a whole. We simply don't expect good people sworn to protect us to be overcome by the evils of our world. It makes us fearful of what evil lies in waiting for us. Stories such as the one of Jake Green help us to remember. Remember what good men will do in the face of evil. Remember what happens when evil wins for a moment. Tragedy often produces legacy, and from the stories of men like Agent Jake Green, we can learn to win battles against evil in our communities. Rules, procedures, and technology have certainly changed how our communities are policed since 1921. Still, when an officer loses the battle and doesn't come home to his family, the consequences are unfortunately the same. We must preserve the memories of our past heroes to allow the families left behind to mourn and begin the healing process after their passing. We must also celebrate their life of sacrificial service to guarantee our safety and security.” Chief (Ret.) Luke Thompson, Police Chief for City of Byram, Mississippi “Juanita Hollinghead’s desire to know the factual details surrounding her grandfather’s death led her to do an exhaustive search into the activities of that fateful day. Her excellent writing skills and integrity in portraying the true story make this book an excellent choice for the reader. Sherye Green handles her subject matter and characters like in her day-to-day relationships—with honesty, care, and grace. It is no wonder she has been sought out to tell the stories of people who have lived in the best and worst circumstances. I gladly recommend Beyond the Green Widow.” James Arrington Goff The News-Commercial Our South Magazine
Michelle Hodgson Unstoppable read!! I could not put this book down! This is so well written you feel like you are transported to1921 while reading it. From the details of the murders and trials to the emotional journey to uncovering the truth, you really feel the author’s heart on every page. A definite must read, you won’t regret it!
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About Juanita Green Hollinghead
Author Juanita Green Hollinghead has devoted the last thirty-nine years of her life to uncovering the facts about the murder of her paternal grandfather. Since early childhood, Juanita has had an inexplicable yearning to know the whole story of Jake’s death. Juanita’s father never discussed the murder of his father with his wife or four children. Only in 1988, after her father’s death, did Juanita begin an active personal investigation into this crime that shaped her entire family’s history.
Juanita worked tirelessly for twenty-four years in the field of education in various positions—kindergarten and elementary classroom instructor, instructional interventionist, and principal. A fifth-generation Mississippian, Juanita has carried on the tradition of service to others established by other members of her Green family, including serving as a member of the Board of Alderman for the Town of Leakesville for eight years.
She and her husband, Andy have two grown children—Drew and Paige—and three grandsons and five granddaughters. They attend Sonlight Community Church and make their home in Leakesville, Mississippi.
The writings of Sherye S. Green reflect her journey of faith and explore the heart’s inner landscapes. An author, singer, and speaker, she has long been intrigued by the power of words to influence and shape thought and action. A former Miss Mississippi, Sherye has enjoyed two careers—one in business, the other in education. She is the award-winning author of two inspirational novels, Abandon Not My Soul and Through a Dark Valley, a devotional collection, Tending the Garden of My Heart: Reflections on Cultivating a Life of Faith, a World War II survivor memoir, Surviving Hitler, Evading Stalin: One Woman’s Remarkable Escape from Nazi Germany, and Mission Vigilant: A Mother’s Crusade to Stem the Tide of Veteran Suicide. Sherye is the 2021 Mississippi Author of the Year for Nonfiction.
Sherye and her husband make their home in Jackson, Mississippi. They are the parents of a son and daughter and are grandparents to five grandsons and one granddaughter.