A community is in mourning after the woman who led Oakland County’s health department centers in Pontiac and Southfield was found dead inside her home Thursday.
Dr. Calendra Green was known by her colleagues as a pristine light who led the charge against COVID-19, as well as being at the forefront of coordinating mental health resources in the days following a devastating mass shooting at a local school.
Authorities say Green died from an apparent murder-suicide when police were dispatched to her home in the late afternoon hours of May 11, a source confirmed to FOX 2 Detroit.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office also confirmed she died at the scene.
“We see more people who are angry, depressed, that they are going through a lot of mental health challenges, a lot of interpersonal relationship challenges, and sometimes it plays out in a violent form tragically,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard told FOX 2 Detroit. “And it appears like that’s what happened here.”
In the hours after Green’s death was announced, dozens of community members were left shocked and distraught by the news.
Green was tapped to serve as the first woman of color to serve as Oakland County’s health officer and was “a light to all who had the privilege to know and love her,” County Executive Dave Coulter in a statement.
He added: “Our hearts are shattered at the news of the passing of our colleague and esteemed Health Officer Dr. Calandra Green. Words cannot express how devastating this news is to our Oakland County family.”
In the days following her death, the Oakland County health department centers in Pontiac and Southfield closed its doors to allow coworkers and colleagues to grieve her loss.
Green began her career in the county as a public health nurse in 2019 and rose the ranks to her chief position in April. Before then, she trained 68 nurses who worked in more than 100 public, private and charter schools during COVID-19, according to the report.
Green was awarded five degrees: a Doctor of Education from Oakland University, a post-masters from Oakland University, a Master of Business Administration from Baker College, a Bachelor of Health Services Administration from Baker College and an Associate of Nursing from Oakland Community College.
We send our light and love to Dr. Green and her family during this very difficult time.
