FATE MORRIS, JR.

FATE MORRIS, JR., a resident of Bartlett, longtime Minister of Music, U. S. Army Veteran and native Fayette Countian died at 7 A.M. Saturday, April 25, 2009 at his home. He was 84 years of age and died following an extended illness.

Funeral services for Mr. Morris were conducted at 2 P.M. Wednesday, April 29th at the Forest Hill East Chapel in Bartlett with a longtime friend, Dr. John May, officiating. A Musical Tribute was given by Mr. Morris' family including his children, grandchildren, great-grandson and brother. Interment with Military Honors followed in the Forest Hill East Cemetery on Whitten Road. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes-Main Chapel of Somerville.

A native of Somerville, Mr. Morris was born February 21, 1925. He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Lafayette Morris and Florence Lucille Chambers Morris. He was a graduate of the Fayette County High School in Somerville, Class of 1943 and received his Undergraduate Degree from the Lambuth College at Jackson and his Master's Degree from Peabody College at Nashville.

He was a United States Army Veteran and served in the Army Reserve achieving the Rank of Lt. Colonel.

He was married March 14, 1948 to the former Mary Virginia Archibald, retired Educator and School Principal, who survives.

A multi-talented person who was known for his love of singing and music, Mr. Morris served as a Minister of Music and Church Administrator for over forty years before his retirement five years ago. He served at Broadmoor Baptist Church for twenty years and also served at Northview Baptist Church. His church membership throughout his life remained at the Somerville First Baptist Church where he was active as a young person.

He participated in numerous church and religious activities. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, a Member of the Scottish Rites and a member of the Reserve Officer's Association of the United States.

He received much enjoyment from visiting with family, friends and church members and will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather and father-in-law. He was known to his grandchildren as "Geepie" and to his many church friends as "Brother Fate".

In addition to his wife of sixty-one years, Mr. Morris is survived by two daughters, Pamela Dunger (Terry) of Bartlett and Deborah Kaufman (Rick) of Arlington; his son, Keith Morris (Jill) of Lakeland, FL; two sisters, Glenn "Petsy" Bedwell of Somerville and Anne Carr of The Villages, FL; one brother, Carlton Morris (Libba) of Somerville; seven grandchildren and one great-grandson.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Vivian Sultis and Bettye Bryson.

Those honored to serve as casket bearers were Gordon Bedwell, Christopher Kaufman, David Kaufman, Brian Morris, Dennis Permenter and Edmund Scanlan.

Honorary casket bearers were Robert Baldridge, Mike Dunger and Ken Masterson.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Memphis Union Mission, P.O. Box 330, Memphis, TN 38101-0330; Phone: (901) 526-8403.