Cynthia Joy Morris

Cynthia Joy Hastas Morris was born on December 24, 1954, in Olean New York. Her parents were Suzanna (Bechakas) and John Gus Hastas. Her only sibling, Gus Dennis Hastas, preceded her in death in 1966. She was the loving wife of the Rev. Michael Stephen Morris, whom she married on August 20,1977.

The couple had two daughters, Kayce Lynne Morris and Kristen Suzanna Hayes. In addition to her beautiful daughters, she leaves behind three cherished granddaughters, Hope Arianna Hayes, Kendall Eireann Hayes, and Emma Grace Hayes.

Cindy was a 1977 graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University where she majored in journalism and politics and government. In 1985,

she achieved her Master of Science degree in Mass Communications from Arkansas State University where she was employed as a graduate assistant in the Journalism Department. Shortly after graduating from college, she became the editor of two county-seat weekly newspapers in Kentucky. She often said that first “real” job was the opportunity of a lifetime---where she was able to use her writing and interviewing talents to the fullest. Not only did she report on public meetings, legislative news,

and community gathering, but her investigative efforts exposed the criminal misconduct of county magistrates and the fact county school children were not being properly immunized. She later became the editor of The Daily News, a business and legal publication in Memphis.

While Cindy was engaged in community and church service all her life, volunteer work most dear to her heart included client counseling at Life Choices Crisis Pregnancy Center and various leadership roles in KAIROS Outside Prison Ministries. She was a lifetime member of Girl Scouts of the USA, a recipient of Girl Scouting’s highest award, and a former adult education director for Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana Council. As a Girl Scout leader, she planned and chaperoned a two-week adventure to Mexico for her

daughter’s troop as well as a white-water rafting trip on the Ocoee River.

Cindy was extremely proud of her Greek heritage. Her most memorable trip was accompanying her parents to Greece in 1993, where they were able to meet relatives and visit the birthplace of all four of her grandparents in Siatista, Greece. She became one of the first women to join Siatista Association----USA.

Along with her husband, Cindy served seven congregations in the Memphis Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Before her death, Cindy wrote these words, “I hope my greatest legacy is that I have touched the lives of those I have met and that

in some way the Christ within me has been revealed. There can be no greater calling.”

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Ellendale United Methodist, located at 7217 Centralia Rd, Bartlett, TN, 38135, US, on November 22, 2025. The service will take place at 10am.