The Rev. Jack Emerson Morris

The Rev. Jack Emerson Morris, age 93, died on his birthday, 11/11/14 at Haven Hospice in Orange Park, FL. He had been a resident of Penney Retirement Community in Penney Farms, FL. The eldest son of Charles Alfred Morris and Ray Olson Morris, he was born in Louisville, KY on 11/11/21. Reared in Atlanta, GA, he graduated from Atlanta Boys High School and attended Georgia State University. During WWII, he served as a Purser in the Merchant Marine attaining the rank of Lieut. Jr. Grade in the U. S, Maritime Service. He married Joy Suzanne Olson in 1946 in Atlanta and they had four daughters: Penny, Carla, Suzanne, and the late Kathy who at the age of 8 was killed in an automobile accident in 1980. He was partner and corporate officer of Ray-O-Lite Corp. of America and was President of Ray-O-Lite of Florida in Hialeah, FL. Later, he was Office Manager of Maytag Southeast in America. At the age of 36, with four children, he received a call to the gospel ministry, was graduated from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA in 1961 and was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament by the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta. He served several pastorates in the Atlanta Area. While pastor of the Oakhurst Presbyterian Church in Decatur, GA, he and his wife, Joy, were pioneers in an inter-racial ministry near the beginning of the Civil Rights movement. He was later the organizing pastor of the Fellowship Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee, FL and upon his retirement in 1990, he was elected Pastor Emeritus. During his ministry he served terms as Moderator of the Presbyteries of both Greater Atlanta and Northwest Florida. He and his wife, Joy, moved to Penney Retirement Community in Penney Farms, FL in 2003. While there, he served as Associate and later Moderator of the Penney Memorial Church. He is survived by his wife, Joy Olson Morris, three daughters Penny Ashley (Mrs. Mike) in Lawrenceville, GA, Carla Anderson (Mrs. Roy), in Virginia Beach, VA, and Suzanne Anderson (Mrs. Charles), in Farmville, VA and one sister Peggie Stewart Coleman (Mrs. Robert) in Gainesville, GA. One sister, Sadie Walker (Mrs. Harold) is deceased. The Morrises have 10 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. His memorial service will be in late January at Penney Memorial Church and burial at Penney Farms Cemetery. Memorials in his honor may be made to the Residents Fund at Penney Memorial Church , Penney Farms, FL. 32079; the PET Project, Penney Retirement Community, Penney Farms, FL. 32079 or Haven Hospice, 745 Blanding Blvd., Orange, Park, FL. 32065.