Frank Morris

MORRIS, Mr. Frank – Age 94, passed away Saturday, March 14, 2009 at Hurley Medical Center. Family hour 1:30PM Saturday, March 21, 2009 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing immediately at 2PM, Bro. Norman Childress, Sr., officiating. Interment River Rest Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the funeral home 1:30PM Saturday. Mr. Morris will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, and may be viewed from 12Noon-8PM Friday. Mr. Frank Morris was born June 20, 1914 in DeSoto, Mississippi. He was the seventh child born to the late Preston and Rose Morris. Mr. Morris lived in Mississippi and Arkansas as a child and young man. He began his adult life as a sharecropper/farmer, cultivating the ground, raising and harvesting its fruitage to feed his family. Mr. Morris raised farm animals and drove work animals. He also developed skills as a barber. One day in the mid 1930’s when he was working as a barber, he noticed an attractive young lady pass by his barbershop. Frank quickly learned that her name was Eva Wadlington. They courted for a short while and then on January 28, 1935 they married. Mr. Morris loved being married to Eva; she pleased him with 13 live birth children. Mr. Frank Morris loved marriage and loved his children, happily and faithfully continuing to preside over his household as head of his family. He and his wife with their children lived in Mellwood, Arkansas, until the early 1960’s when Mr. Morris moved his family to Chester, Pennsylvania and from there to Chicago, Illinois, and then on to Flint, Michigan. Mr. Morris was known by his family as a “Man of Prayer”. He served as a Deacon at True Light Missionary Baptist Church, in Mellwood, Arkansas; his church spoke of his fervent and zealous prayers for his family, his friends and those who had no helper. He encouraged everyone. When Frank moved to Flint he occasionally attended the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses with his family. It was there that he learned God’s name, Jehovah, (Psalms 83:18). He often called upon this name in prayer. Mr. Frank Morris and his wife Eva shared life together for 71 years until the day when on December 22, 2006, Eva fell asleep in death. It was the end of a lifetime together. Frank continued to endure with a strong will to live until his own health and frail body failed him. He had special caregivers in addition to his children and grandchildren: a wonderful neighbor, affectionately called “Junior” and a dear nephew, Edmond Smith. Finally, on Saturday, March 14, 2009 with his family by his side, Frank too, fell asleep in death. Mr. Morris saw four generations of his offspring born, thus, five generations. Mr. Frank Morris leaves to cherish his memory: 12 children, Ella Payne-Bonner, Rose Dunlap, Eva Edwards, Preston Morris III, Daisy (James) Hill, Caroline Morris, Thelma Morris and Jesse (Oscar) Murdock all of Flint, Louis (Lula) Morris, Ruby Morris, James (Glenda) Morris all of Chicago, IL and Frank Morris, Jr. of Vallejo, CA; sister-in-law, Hattie Williams of Indianapolis, IN; a host of grandchildren, great grand-children, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Mr. Morris was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Eva; daughter, Fabric Morris; granddaughter, Marilyn Hill; grandson, Bobby Lee Jones; 6 great-grandsons, Keithro Carter, Sr., Antonio Griggs, Jeremy Hunt, Curley Newell IV, Kenneth Morris, Jr., Tony Morris; sisters, Mary Ella (Dewey) Mitchell, Peggy (John) Smith, Willie L. (Frank) Wynn, Savannah (James) Williams; brothers, Andrew, Preston II (Lillian), Nathaniel (Mae) and Miller (Wilene) Morris. The family would like to thank special friend of the family, Woodrow “Junior” Newall, Ideal Home Health Physicians, Global Home Health Care, Valley Area on Aging, Heartland Hospice and Hurley Medical Center.

Frank Morris

June 20, 1914 - March 14, 2009