Bernard Berl Morrison Jr.

Bernard (Bernie) Berl Morrison Jr., 74, died at his home surrounded by loved ones on December 27, 2022. A resident of Locust Grove, he was known for his love of family and friends, career in air traffic control, and as a professional real bearded Santa.

Born January 4, 1948, in Dallas Texas, he was the son of the late Bernard Berl (B.B.) Morrison Sr., and the late Sue Marie Hyatt Morrison. When Bernie was two years old the family moved to Atlanta and he later graduated from Lakeshore High School and then West Georgia College in Carrollton. At college he met Janet (Jan) Gail Barke and they married in June 1971. She preceded him in death in July 2020. They were happily married for almost 50 years.

Bernie and Jan organized a reunion after 40 years for his college fraternity brothers at Kappa Phi and Bernie also organized reunions for Lakeshore High School. Renewing the friendship and camaraderie with the “brothers” and friends at Lakeshore and their spouses was a source of happiness for him and Jan. They had fun traveling and doing other activities outside of the reunions with couples from the fraternity.

Christmas was his favorite time of year; he and Jan were professional “Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus” for the last 19 years. They enjoyed attending Santa conventions to learn new ways to spread Christmas cheer as members of the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas. He had a true love of children and enjoyed spreading love and the magic of Christmas as “Santa Bernie” year-round, always having a candy cane in his pocket to give away. Many referred to him as “the best Santa ever”.

Beginning in 1974, Bernie worked as an air traffic controller at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Atlanta Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZTL) in Hampton, GA. It is the busiest air traffic control facility in the world and Bernie was proud to serve there for nearly 30 years before retiring. After retirement, he trained incoming air traffic controllers for several years. The air traffic control community remembered him fondly as a pleasure to work with and held him in high esteem.

Bernie’s family and friends gave him the greatest happiness. He was naturally outgoing and always took time to communicate with his large network of loved ones. Those who knew him well all describe him similarly: extremely kind, the nicest and sweetest person you could hope to meet. He took great pride in his wife Jan; the person that she was, her talents as an artist, her brief nursing career, and the courage she always showed struggling with her chronic health issues. Like Jan, Bernie said his greatest accomplishment was having and raising his two sons, Matthew McKinley Morrison and Benjamin Reeves Morrison. He was a loving and supportive father who always made time for his children. He not only attended, but also coached their baseball and football teams at the old Riverdale Recreation Center. He was also very proud and happy with his grandchildren, spending much time with them on the phone, or visiting them in person when possible.

Bernie had many interests and hobbies including woodworking, gardening, nature, and even pigeon racing. He loved Georgia Tech and the Braves and often attended their games. A music lover, he always listened to the oldies of the 60’s and 70’s, as well as Celtic music, often while traveling, working outside, and sometimes in person at concerts. He was also an avid reader with a large collection of both novels and nonfiction, particularly on Native Americans and US military history.

In early spring 2022, Bernie was introduced to a wonderful woman, Elizabeth (Liz) Linn Palmer. They had an instant connection, quickly fell in love, and married October 9, 2022. While he was ill with pancreatic cancer Liz, Matt, and Ben stayed by his side and lovingly provided care and support. Although their time together was tragically cut short, Bernie’s loved ones are thrilled to have Liz as a family member and friend.

Survivors include wife Elizabeth Linn Palmer of Roswell, GA; sons, Matthew Morrison, Arvada, CO, and Benjamin (Sydney) Morrison, McClellanville, SC; a sister, Alice Morrison, Christian City, GA; brother-in-law Richard (Nancy) Barke, Marietta, GA; granddaughters Bonnie and Molly Morrison, Arvada, CO; grandson, Oscar Morrison, McClellanville, SC; nieces, Amanda (Eddie) Tavares, Barnesville, GA and Julia Barke, Potsdam, Germany; uncle Larry (Nancy) Morrison, O’Fallen, IL; cousin William (Doc) Hyatt and wife Sonya Hyatt, Oviedo, FL, and numerous loving cousins scattered throughout the United States.

A Celebration of Life ceremony will take place on February 11, 2023, at the Locust Grove Event Center (280 Mose Brown Drive, Locust Grove, GA 30248) between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, Bernie requested donations be made to the Jan Barke Morrison Scholarship Fund for students majoring in art at the University of West Georgia. Checks may be sent to UWG Foundation, Attn: Jan Barke Morrison Scholarship Fund, 1601 Maple Street, Carrollton GA 30118, marked Jan Barke Morrison Scholarship in the memo line. UWG has a link for giving online to this scholarship (https://giving.westga.edu/morrison-2/). If $25,000 is raised within seven years, the scholarship will become an endowment with Jan’s name on it.