Francis Morris

A memorial service for Lt. Col. Francis St. Clair Morris, US Army (Ret’d) will be held at 2 o’clock Saturday, December 17, 2011 at Columbia Evangelical Church with The Rev. Stan Candler, The Rev. Dr. Randall B. Jordan and The Rev. Dennis Newell officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. Memorials may be made to Columbia Evangelical Church, 1013 Barnwell St., Columbia, SC 29201 or to Hospice Care of Tri-County, 166 Stoneridge Drive., Columbia, SC 29210. Shives Funeral Home, Colonial Chapel is assisting the family.

Col. Morris died Thursday, December 8, 2011. Born in Hell Hole Swamp, SC on October 22, 1916, he was a son of the late Harvey Augustus Morris and Frances Helena Thomas Morris.

A WWII Army veteran, he served in Japan and Germany. After retiring from the army he spent many years in education as a teacher and as principal of Irmo Elementary and Seven Oaks Elementary. After his retirement from administration, he returned to his first love, teaching. Col. Morris was a charter member of Columbia Evangelical Church where he served many years as an elder.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia W. “Pat” Morris; daughters, Barbara A. (BJ) Kleinrock of Columbia, Paula M. (Randall B.) Jordan of Indian Trail, NC, Cathie M. (Stan) Candler of Pelzer, SC; grandchildren, Michael A. (Diane) Lackey, John M. Lackey, Paul H. Lackey, Christopher B. Jordan, Bethany J. (Brian) Welch, Ashley C. (Tim) Sexton, Brandon J. (Kelley) Candler, Anna C. (Matt) Barnes; great-grandchildren, Kyle E. Lackey, Erin M. Lackey, J. Carter Barnes, Kamryn J. Sexton, step-daughters, Anita W. (John) Cable, Francis W. (Wayne) Haltiwanger. In addition to his parents, Col. Morris was preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia C. Morris.

The family would like to express their appreciation to Hospice Care of Tri-County, and the caregivers of Col. Morris: Marilyn Frazier, Phyllis Wright, Josette Freeman, Linda Adams and George Corbett.