Morris Conerly

CONERLY, Mr. Morris L. Sr. - Age 83, passed away Monday, February 4, 2008 at his residence. Family hour 10AM Saturday, February 9, 2008 at Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle, 930 E. Myrtle Ave., with funeral service commencing at 11AM, Dr. A.J. Pointer, officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10AM Saturday. Mr. Conerly will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 12Noon-8PM Friday. Mr. Morris L. Conerly, Sr. was born June 14, 1924 to Pervis and Lillie (Coney) Conerly in McComb, Mississippi, where he attended Rose Hill High School. After high school he entered the United States Marine Corps, where he was among the first Blacks to enter the Marines. These first Black Marines were known as the "Chosen Few". They were trailblazers in the mold of the Tuskegee Airmen. Morris served with distinction in the Pacific Campaign against the Japanese in such places as Saipan, Iowa Jima, Okinawa, Guam, etc. After his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps in 1946 he returned to Mississippi, where on May 20, 1946 he married his childhood sweetheart, Emma Lee McEwen. On July 28, 1947 their son Morris Jr., was born. Shortly thereafter the young family moved to Flint, Michigan. Once settled in Flint, Morris Sr. obtained employment at Buick, as a welder in the foundry and wife Emma as homemaker. In that same year Morris Sr., and Emma became members of Metropolitan Baptist Church, where Morris Sr. later became a Deacon. Through the early years the family grew as Rodney (Sharif), Valaria, Anthony, Dorothy "Nija" and Clayton were born. The young family lived on 805 E. Baltimore Street. Morris Sr. had won various awards for design suggestions and studied at General Motors Institute, however in the "Fifties" there was little call for Black Engineers. Even though he was a committeeman, he felt there was little room for advancement. In 1956 he quit his job at Buick to start his own trucking business. Another young Black man also quit that same night and became a successful businessman, his name Al Golden. This was an audacious move that was questioned by many. So many people couldn't believe he could give up the security of General Motors, for the uncertainty of a small business. Morris would say "anyone can be ordinary" and his life he would prove he was extraordinary. He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1963. In 1968 his company MLC was the largest minority construction company in the Saginaw Valley with multi-million dollar revenues. His dream was to have his sons work in the business, over the years his sons Sharif, Anthony and Clayton were of great assistance to their father. At one point the company had thirty trucks, trailers, bulldozers, end loaders, back hoes, etc. He was known among his peers as a visionary who started with one truck and built it into a series of outstanding companies that engaged in blacktop, pipeline, concrete, landscaping, bridge construction and highway building, etc. Through his companies Morris Sr. taught and trained many minorities who learned skills and trades that earned a good life for them and their families. Many people approached him over the years for advice, which he gladly gave. He enjoyed mentoring anyone who was serious. It gave him great pleasure to see those whom he had mentored achieve success. Morris Sr. was a very devout Christian who believed that God was in the plan. With prayer and devotion he believed anything was possible. As a Deacon at Metropolitan he was an enthusiastic supporter of the Church. Later he moved his membership to Mount Zion Baptist Church where he was one of the original founders. Later in life he spent a great deal of time on the road, where he always carried his Bible, sermons on tape and watched TCT whenever he could. Morris Sr. was known as "Chief" and if anyone ever met him they knew why he was called "Chief". He was a born leader in whatever he did. Right up to the end he was driving trucks coast to coast. They broke the mold after they made him and he will be missed. Mr. Morris L. Conerly, Sr. leaves to cherish his memory: 6 children, Morris Conerly, Jr. of California, Sharif Hasan "Rodney" (Sheryl) Ali of Moreno Valley, CA, Valaria Conerly (Lawrence E.) Moon of Flint, Anthony Conerly of Benton Harbor, MI, Dorothy Ladale "Nija Ceylon" (Simon) McKinnis of Flint; and Clayton (Traci) Conerly of Hampton, VA; 15 grandchildren, Nicole Ali of Orange County, CA, Kamilah Ali of Philadelphia, PA, Sharif Ali of Hemet, CA, Faheem Ali of Maui Hawaii, Riyad (Precious) Ali of Phoenix, AZ, Saudeeqah and Raushanah Ali both of San Diego, CA, Lawrence T. Moon of Pontiac, MI, Dettrick Conerly, Monique Warren of Hemet, CA, India Walker of Flint, Tanyakncia Hunter of Jackson, MS, Anthony, Andrew, Jr., and Ashley Holland of Hampton, VA; 16 great-grandchildren; 3 sisters, Linnie (Willie) Couch, Alice Britt, all of Flint and Mary (Bertell) Vernon of Seaside, CA; 2 brothers, Frank (Rene) Conerly of Flint and Moses (Janet) Conerly of Grand Blanc, MI; 3 sisters-in-law, Bertha Wesley and Lovie Price both of Shaker Heights, OH, Helen (Dr. Payton) Cook of Baton Rouge, LA; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Mr. Conerly was preceded in death by his wife, Emma L. Conerly; parents, Pervis and Lillie Conerly; brother, Pervis Conerly, Jr.; sisters, Mildred Miller, Eva Mae Ginn, and Doris Holbrook. The family would like to express special thanks to Sharif Ali, Clayton Conerly, Morris Conerly, Jr., and James Johnson.

Morris Conerly

June 14, 1924 - February 4, 2008