BENNIE LEE MORRIS

Bennie Lee Morris was born on April 4, 1926, to Effie Lee and Bennie Edward Morris in
Caruthersville, Missouri. He was the eldest of his 7 siblings.
As a child, when school let out for vacation each summer Bennie would travel to
Clarksdale, Mississippi, where he enjoyed spending time with his great uncle MacArthur
and great aunt Maddie, however, they also put little Bennie to work assisting them on
their farm. This early farm work, in fact, was the beginning of his discipline in applying
hard work and dedication to everything he approached.
Bennie attended elementary and junior high school in Saxton, Missouri, and he
graduated from Central High in Hayti, Missouri.
Although quiet, private, and of a soft spoken (but stern when needed) nature, friends
and loved ones knew Bennie as a caring person who demonstrated his affection and
concern for others in unspoken ways.
He loved the Lord with all of his heart and he accepted Christ as his personal savior
while still a young boy attending church in Hayti. As an adult he joined the Calvary
Baptist Church in San Diego under the pastorship of Rev. Dr. S.M. Lockridge. At
Calvary Bennie served faithfully as a Sunday school teacher and as Sunday school
department superintendent. He additionally served on the deacon and usher board and
he was a member of the brotherhood. He later joined the Mt. Erie Baptist Church in
San Diego under the pastorship of Rev. Dr. Walter G. Wells, where he was again wholly
committed in serving as a Sunday school teacher, a deacon, and on the brotherhood.
He was a tireless and devoted servant for the Lord taking on additional roles as
president of the CA State Brotherhood, and as a bible teacher for the district
brotherhood. Bennie loved regularly attending the district, state, and national
Missionary Baptist Congress on Christian Education for Sunday school, the Missionary
Baptist Convention, and the brotherhood union.
After high school, on December 12, 1944, he entered the Navy where he actively
served for 20 years, again demonstrating his solid work ethic. He was a 6 time recipient
of the “good conduct” medal! After his discharge from the navy he worked at North
Island as a supervisor until his retirement. He was a proud member of the American
Legion veteran organization.
Bennie was united in marriage with Celester Smith, a school teacher, on Dec. 10, 1953,
and they welcomed their beloved only child, a son, Anthony Craig (Tony), in 1961.
Celester proceeded him in death on 1/7/2000, and Tony proceeded him in death on
12/20/2020.
Bennie’s favorite meal was a good catfish dinner! He would meet up with brother
James Rowell of the Mt. Erie church, and brother Lawrence Hearn of the Mt. Zion
church for breakfast once a month at Coco’s in the “Marketplace At The Grove”
shopping center. The members of the Mt. Erie deacon board and the brotherhood
served as his “bonus brothers”. Brother James Rowell, brother Isaac Williams and

brother Melvin Colbert were truly AWESOME in providing whatever support Bennie
needed in terms of caregiving, running errands, and taking him to Dr. Appointments and
he considered himself blessed to call these men his brothers.
Teaching Sunday school at Mt Erie each week was Bennie’s joy and passion and he
served faithfully in that capacity as well as serving as a teacher’s meeting instructor until
his health declined. The Sunday school department was his true calling and proudest
ministry work and he was ALWAYS prepared to teach, rain or shine… even when sick...
and he was ALWAYS timely. Bennie Morris was one of the most dependable and
responsible servants that you could ever call on and he regarded his work for the Lord
as a serious labor of love and commitment.
Early on Friday, December 30, 2022 at 3 a.m. that morning Bennie Lee Morris departed
this earthly life to be with his Lord and Savior in heaven.
Loving memories of Bennie will remain with his sister, Willie B. Smith of Muskogee,
Michigan; brother, James (Nate) C. Jackson of Port Huron, Michigan, (wife, Elaine);
Norman Goodwin (whom he considered as a son) of South Carolina (wife, Sharron);
and Ayana Brown (whom he considered as a grand daughter) of Dallas, Texas, and
many nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Proceeding him in death are his wife, Celester Marie Morris; son, Anthony Craig Morris;
parents, Bennie Edward and Effie Lee Morris; sisters, Lillian Scrugg, Lily Mae Grant,
Coralee Causley and Wilma Smith; and brother, Bobby Morris.

We little knew that day,
God was going to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly,
In death, we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you.
You did not go alone.
For part of us went with you,
The day God called you home.

You left us beautiful memories,
Your love is still our guide.
And although we cannot see you,
You are always at our side.

Our family chain is broken,
And nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one,
The chain will link again.

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