Phillip Wayne Morris

Virginia Beach-- Sgt. Major Phillip W. Morris (USMC ret.), 62, departed this life on Saturday, May 17. Distinguished soldier, loyal family member and friend, Phil was born in Selma, NC and moved with his family to Virginia Beach where he attended Princess Anne High School. He married his high school sweetheart, the former Sally Clark May, and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1966. While serving in Vietnam, he earned the Silver Star, one of our nation’s highest honors, for “conspicuous gallantry” in reorganizing his unit and repeatedly crawling into harm’s way to save the lives of many of his men. During his 22-year career, he was also awarded two Purple Hearts and numerous citations and service awards – all are testament to his character, dedication and leadership. Following his military retirement, Phil began a second career in building materials. For the last 17 years, he served as a Manager of Norfolk Sash & Door Company Inc. and sat on its Board of Directors. Phil leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 42 years, Sally, daughter Marilyn along with husband Mack, son Dwayne along with wife Jennine, and four grandchildren who were his pride and joy: Ian, Morgan, Lane and Maddie. Also surviving are sisters Victoria, Deborah, Cynthia and Lisa, father-in-law Albert May, sisters-in-law Susan, Sandy, Sherry, Brigitte and Ann, brothers-in-law John, Allan, Howard, Doug, Jack and Rod, and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Nora Mae and Dallas Morris, beloved mother-in-law Corretta Ann May, and brother, Thomas. An expert marksman, Phil enjoyed a lifelong love of target shooting and hunting. He met many close friends through the sports, including Ron and Sally Necessary, Marshall Harrell, Bob Marcotte and many more special friends at Old Forge and Hunter’s Point Sporting Clays. The family will welcome visitors on Monday evening, 6:30 to 8:30 PM at Woodlawn Funeral Home 6329 E. Virginia Beach Blvd. A celebration of his life, with military honors, will be Tuesday at 2:00 PM at Woodlawn Funeral Home. A memorial contribution to any charity of your choice would be welcomed. Online condolences and Phillip's guestbook may be signed at www.woodlawngroup.com …and they will find the streets of heaven guarded by a United States Marine. Semper Fi, our hero