Mother Ruth Jefferson-Morris

JEFFERSON-MORRIS, Mother Ruth - age 97, passed away Saturday, May 10, 2014 at Fostrian Court Assisted Living-Flushing, MI. Family hour 10 a.m. Saturday, May 17, 2014 at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 2109 M.L. King Ave. with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Pastor Rodney Ellison officiating. Interment Gracelawn Community Cemetery, G-5710 N. Saginaw St. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the Church 10 a.m. Saturday. Mother Jefferson-Morris will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. and may be viewed from 3 p.m.-8 p.m. Friday, with the family present from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Mother Ruth Jefferson Morris was born March 30, 1917 in Alto, Louisiana, the daughter of the late Robert and Mollie (Dowfork) Johnson. She accepted Christ at an early age becoming a member of the Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Louisiana. After her marriage to the late Pat Jefferson, she moved with her family to Little Rock, AR uniting with the St. John Missionary Baptist Church where she sang in the choir and served. She later moved to Flint, Michigan in 1953, uniting with the Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle. Mother Morris was the last surviving Charter Member who helped in organizing Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in 1967, under the leadership of Dr. S.D. Edwards. She worked and served there for 47 years, her longest tenure being under the leadership of Pastor Emeritus H.B. Dixon for 42 years, after his retirement she continued to serve under the leadership of Pastor Rodney Ellison. She was a member of many auxiliaries, often serving as president, including, the Mothers Board, the Pastor’s Aid, Gospel Chorus, Mission, Nurse’s Guild, and most of all but not least, Head Cook and leader of the Kitchen Committee. She was a regular attendee at the 3rd Thursday GLBD Women’s Dept. meetings doing whatever she could to keep her church involved in the work of the District Mission. Mother Morris received several awards and recognition for her work with the Youth at Pierson School and in the community. We would be amiss not to mention her affiliation with the Order of Easter Star. Mother Ruth Jefferson Morris belonged to The Rose of Sharron Lodge Order of the Eastern Star she was a member of Cape Jasmine Chapter No. 2 O.E.S. where she served as Worthy Matron, Willie Meeks Amaranth Court No. 5 where she held the position of Royal Matron, Beauty Rose Court No. 5 Heroines of Jericho where she served as Most Ancient Matron, Holy Cross Council No. 4 Lady Knight Templar, Mecca Court No. 5 Daughter of Sphinx, Sheba Palace Royal Lady, Mable S. Powell Past Matron and Patron Council and she was the Supreme Grand Supervisor of the Gleaners for the State of Michigan. Mother Morris just loved people; never met someone who remained a stranger, did what she could to help others, and many, many of these people crossed her path, and she loved to travel. Mother Ruth Jefferson Morris leaves to cherish her memories: sons, Clifton (NaShawn) Jefferson and Phil D. Johnson (Crysal Riggs), both of Flint; 8 daughters, Shirley Martin, Ethel (Charles) Brown, Patricia Jefferson, Sandra Jefferson and Beverly Jefferson, all of Flint, Juanita (Melvin) Carroll of Chandler, AZ, Depretha (Robert)Beyah of Atlanta, GA and Toni Jefferson of Dallas, TX; adopted daughters, Artie Dixon Tyler and Mary Jones, both of Flint; 34 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren; 17 great-great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-great-grandchild; brother, Orlando Johnson of Start, LA; a host of nieces, nephews and friends survive. Mother Morris was preceded in death by her husband, William Morris; 6 children, Bobby Jefferson, Fannie Jordan, Sydney Jefferson, Pat Jr., Rosemary and Bonnie D.; 5 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; parents, Robert and Mollie Johnson; 5 sisters, Sara Jefferson, Mackie Armstrong, Lucille Simmons, Annie B Johnson, and Flora B. Johnson; 2 brothers, Aron Johnson and Wade Johnson.

Mother Ruth Jefferson-Morris

March 30, 1917 - May 10, 2014