 Green was born February 28 , 1951 , the second of two daughters to Joan and Bob Jones of Havana , Illinois . She showed early intellectual promise , and is reported to have taught herself to read and write before she was three years old . Green participated in a number of school activities at the two high schools she attended and was a National Merit Scholar and co @-@ valedictorian of her high school class . Those who knew her at the time later described her as " [ fitting ] right in " and someone who was " going to be successful " . 
