Leslie C. Morris

Leslie C. Morris passed away August 12, 2012. She was born July 29, 1943 in Tennessee. As a young child she moved to Parkersburg, West Virginia and that became her home town. Leslie’s passion was always children with special needs. She earned her A.A. from Hillsborough Community College in 1971. She received her B.A. and Masters Degree from the University of South Florida. She began her educational career as an E. M. H. teacher in 1974. In the 1974-75 school year she transferred to Dover Exceptional Center. She taught at Dover until 1981 when she was appointed their administrator. Leslie stayed with her Dover family until 1999. In 1999 she was appointed principal at Caminiti Exceptional Center where she remained until 2004. In 2004 Leslie was appointed as the first principal of the new Simmons Career and Exceptional Center. She retired from this position in June 2010.

Being that special needs children were always her focus, she began her retirement by volunteering as a surrogate parent for exceptional children in the Hillsborough County School District. She also lent her time and effort to MacDonald Training Center and served on their Board of Directors. Leslie’s other great joy in life was her family. She especially enjoyed doting on her grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Not to be forgotten are the numerous friends she treasured.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Donald E. Morris, her father Leslie Cooper and her mother Virginia Cooper. She is survived by two sons, Donald J. Morris and Michael E. Morris. She is also survived by her daughter Julie and son-in-law Erthel Hill. She was blessed with two grandchildren, Evan Hill and Shayla Morris, who were the light of her life. She is survived by her sister, Mary Jane Johnson, brother David Cooper, nieces Susan Bahti, Rebecca Simones, nephews Scott Cooper and Andrew Johnson.

Memorial services will be held, Friday, August 17, 2012 at 7 PM in the chapel of Stowers Funeral Home, 401 West Brandon Blvd., Brandon, Florida with the family receiving friends prior to the service from 5-7 PM.

The family requests donations to MacDonald Training Center, 5420 West Cypress Street, Tampa, Florida 33607, in lieu of flowers.