Joella Mitchell Morris

Joella Mitchell Morris graduated to be with The Lord, on Thursday, the 12th of September 2013 in Houston. Joella was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1922 to George and Lottie Mitchell. Her family moved to Houston when she was in junior high school. Joella was 13 when she met Stewart Morris Sr. at the Baptist Encampment in Palacios. She lived in Houston until she went to college earning a bachelors’ degree from SMU in Dallas, and was a member of the Tri-Delta sorority. Joella reunited with Stewart in September 1942, as a senior on the SMU campus. She married Stewart when she was 20 years old, in her parent’s home in Dallas, on the 17th of July 1943.

Joella was known, loved and admired by many. She was dedicated to her family, serving the community, and passionate in preserving history for future generations. Her interest in quality and history were consistent. Her gentle voice and beautiful smile were a constant. Her softness and practicality worked together to make her essential. She was transparent and genuine in every respect. She was very nurturing and supportive of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Joella had many community interests that spanned from Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames, the Daughters of the American Colonist, and the Daughters of the Confederacy. She set the Museum of Southern History on a course for growth and significance that will endure. The museum resides today on the campus of the Houston Baptist University as part of the Joella and Stewart Morris Cultural Arts Center. Joella was honored with a Doctorate from Washington and Lee University, one of the oldest schools of higher education in America.

She loved, attended and served as a faithful member of the Second Baptist Church. She was chairman of the Joella and Stewart Morris Foundation, which is dedicated to the support of five institutions: Second Baptist Church, Houston Baptist University, Memorial Herman Healthcare, Washington and Lee University, and Museum of Southern History. Of particular note, Joella was intimately involved in the gift, restoration, and support of the 1842 Joella and Stewart Morris House on the campus of Washington and Lee that is used by visiting dignitaries. Joella led the restoration of the 1881 Stewart Title Building in Galveston, that has been used by the company consistently since 1906. She had a vision and financed the restoration of the Palladian Window of Mount Vernon the home of George Washington in Virginia. In 1948, she designed and built their current family home in Houston.

She was proceeded in death by her parents; and her brother, George Mitchell Jr. Joella is survived by her husband of 70 years, Stewart Morris, Sr.; 2 daughters, Caralisa Morris Simon and husband Jerry Simon, Carlotta Barker and husband David; and son, Stewart Morris, Jr., and wife Joy. She was blessed with beautiful grandchildren, Vanessa Zein-Eldin, Daniella Alvarado, Joellan Mullen, Camella Clements, Glenn Clements, Jr., Faith Birdsong Morris, Grace Stewart Morris and Stewart Morris III. Great grandchildren are Cameron Zein-Eldin, Joanna Zein-Eldin, Ryan Mullen, Jackson Mullen, Isabella Alvarado, Penelope Bryant, Amelia Rose Clements.

A memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 17th of September 2013, in the sanctuary of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston, where Dr. H. Edwin Young, Pastor, is to officiate.

Later that day, all are invited to greet the family during a reception from three until five o’clock in the afternoon, at the The Joella and Stewart Morris Cultural Arts Center at Houston Baptist University, 7502 Fondren Road in Houston.

Prior to the services, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests, with gratitude, that memorial contributions in Joella's name be directed to any of the following organizations: Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Dr. Houston, TX, 77057; Houston Baptist University, 7502 Fondren Rd, Houston, TX, 77074; Memorial Herman Healthcare, 949 Gessner Rd., Houston, TX, 77024; Washington and Lee University, 204 W Washington St., Lexington, VA, 24450; or to the Museum of Southern History, 7502 Fondren Rd., Houston, TX, 77074.