The Rev. Dr. Presley Andrew Morris, 86, widower of Rhunette F. Morris, died Tuesday, September, 16, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Born Jan. 7, 1928, near Alcolu, he was a son of Andrew Franklin Morris and Mamie Lee Cutter Morris. He grew up on a farm with his parents, three brothers, two sisters, three cousins and his grandmother.
At 18, he became a carpenter's helper and worked his way up to a building contractor for fifteen years.
He married Rhunette Floyd Sept. 6, 1947.
He was saved April 27, 1955. He immediately answered God's call to preach, and feeling a need to study God's word, he enrolled and graduated from Fruitland Baptist Institute in 1959, Columbia Bible College in 1961, Christian Theological Seminary in 1968, and received his doctoral degree in theology from Luther Rice Seminary in 1972. He also was awarded an honorary doctor of churches degree from Southeastern Indiana Baptist Association in 1972.
He was a member of New Hope Baptist Church in Rembert. For 55 years he served churches in South Carolina, North Carolina and Indiana. He also served as Director of Missions in Indiana under appointment by the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.
He is survived by a daughter, Rosemary Morris Herring; a son, David Morris (Susie), both of Alcolu; two brothers, B.M. "Donald" Morris of Alcolu and William L. "Billy" Morris (Margie) of Manning; a sister, Ava Rea Justice of Manning; three grandsons, Jason Morris of Myrtle Beach, Justin Morris of Charleston and Shane Herring (Kristen) of Waynesville, N.C.; a great granddaughter, Colbie Marie Herring; a step-granddaughter, Terri Keller (Herman); two step-great granddaughters, Candice and Heather; three step-great great grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Joseph Franklin "Frankie" Morris; a sister, Mary Bell Richburg; his son-in-law, Johnny Walker Herring; and two sisters-in-law, Ann and Ruby Morris.
A funeral service for the Rev. Dr. Presley Andrew Morris will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, September 18, 2014, in the Clarendon Baptist Church Family Life Center with the Rev. Jesse Powers officiating. Burial will follow in Trinity Cemetery.
Nephews will serve as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014, at Stephens Funeral Home, and other times at the home of his daughter, Rosemary Herring, 1219 Clemson Road in Alcolu.
Memorials may be made to the Huntington's Disease Society of America, 505 Eighth Ave., Suite 902, New York, NY 10018.
Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St. in Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179.
