Geraldine (“Gerry”) Marie Morris, Clinton, passed away peacefully at home Thursday morning April 24 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s-Lewy Body. Born October 3, 1941, Alexandria, LA, the eldest of the four children of Geraldine and Sam Gravel. When her father died at age 37, Gerry's gifts for caregiving and leadership emerged as she partnered with her mother to nurture her younger brothers. Supported by their church, Emmanuel Baptist, along with caring friends and neighbors, all four went on to graduate from college. A devoted wife and mother, Gerry’s life was marked by her boundless energy, her humanitarian spirit, her creative leadership in her community, and her deep devotion as a social worker. She was ever finding joy in family, friendships, and service, inspiring others with her warmth, humor, and insights.

Gerry graduated from Bolton High School, Alexandria, LA, and attended Louisiana Tech for one year on a scholarship before transferring to Blue Mountain College, MS. There she majored in English and History, served as Director of the Baptist Student Union, and was awarded the prestigious Women’s Missionary Union Scholarship to study at Southern Seminary, Louisville, KY for joint Masters degrees in Christian Education and Social Work (Kent School). There she met Lee Morris, and they married in ‘65 and graduated together in ‘66.

While Lee served as pastor at Berea Baptist Church, Berea, KY (‘66-’70), Gerry taught Sunday School, taught a course in social work at Berea College, and formed “Churches Relating in Concern,” a women’s service group.

Then while Lee was pastor at Robertsville Baptist Church, Oak Ridge (‘70-’79) Gerry taught classes, helped with Mothers’ Day Out, and worked at Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services. She gave birth to Matthew in ‘71, and suffered his death with meningitis two years later. She bravely sought motherhood again with two sons, Paul ‘75 and Jonathan ‘77.

They returned to Berea when Lee became Chaplain at Berea College, ‘79, and Gerry assisted in Pre-marriage Seminars, among many other campus activities, and hosted countless students in their home. She also taught social work courses at Eastern KY University. For many summers she served on the board of the Berea Dolphins swim team. She helped establish the Richmond-Berea Hospice group, where she focused on grief management and concluded her fifteen-years there as a co-director. She received the Hospice Spirit and the Berea Lion’s Club’s “Citizen of the Year” awards. In 2000, Gerry & Lee returned to Clinton, TN where she served as social worker at the former Northshore Mental Hospital, Knoxville, TN for three years and cared for her mother who also succumbed to Alzheimer’s.

Gerry especially enjoyed her sons’ many adventures and accomplishments; being “papa” to nephews and nieces, grandma to Nathaniel; family gatherings like July 4th camping at the barn, Ellijay, GA, and Ethel’s Cabin, Guntersville Lake, AL; Wilderness Wildlife Weeks, Pigeon Forge, TN; tours of Ireland and Rome with her “last of the vestal virgins” college roomies; hikes like Mt. LeConte on her 70th birthday; family vacations at N. Myrtle Beach; partnering with Lee in adventures like camping along the Oregon Trail to Oregon City; and singing in the former Grace Covenant Church Choir, Oak Ridge, TN.

Gerry leaves rich blessings gifted to her husband of 60 years, Lee; her son Paul and his wife Teri and their son Nathaniel (New York, NY); her son Jon and his wife Leah (Brooklyn, NY); her brother Sam and his wife Jill (Huntsville, AL); Sam and Jill’s daughter Leanne and her children, Catherine, Alison, and Samuel; her brother Alan and his wife April (Atlanta, GA); Alan’s son Mark and his wife Jenny and their daughters Mia and Macie (Greer, SC); Alan’s son Ryan and his wife Karen and their children, Lucia and Jonas (Atlanta, GA); her brother Muse and his wife Nancy and their daughter, Sophie (Berea, KY); a host of other kin, colleagues, and friends.

A memorial service will be held Saturday May 31, 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. In lieu of flowers, please consider gifts to Alzheimer’s Tennessee: https://www.alztennessee.org.