James Leonard Morgan Jr.

Memorial services are scheduled at Edgewood Hall of Striffler-Hamby, Columbus on Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 2 p.m. Private burial will be held at Parkhill Cemetery prior to the funeral service. The family will receive friends at the Mill Room of Striffler-Hamby, Columbus after the Memorial Service on Thursday, March 20, 2014.

For his entire career, he was the mainstay of Morgan Oil Company, which he and his father, J. L. Morgan, Sr., founded. There, he was a loyal partner with Shell Oil for over 50 years. He served as president of the Georgia Oilmen’s Association and was recognized as one of its stalwart defenders and leaders for many years. In his teens, he was known as “Ace” because of his baseball skills and later that nickname followed him to various golf courses in the area. As an adult, he was a scratch golfer and he lived to compete on both the golf course and the tennis court. It was on the tennis court that he taught his two younger sons the art of mastering “anger management”. It is part family lore that he was known to carry his golf clubs in the cab of his gasoline transport truck, making before dawn deliveries so he could stop at the old course in Warm Springs for a round – often without the knowledge of anyone except those with whom he played. His back-to-back club championship play at Warm Springs remained a fond memory through the years. Later on, he would be a regular at the Columbus Country Club Men’s grill for golf on good days and cards when the weather turned sour.

For all of his 81 years he was inspired by the love of his mother, Helen Flowers Morgan, and the love of his life and best friend, Barbara, who survives him after 56 years of marriage. His three sons, Jay, Wes, and Ted all knew his pride in them and his grandchildren, Caroline, Jason, and Victoria; Olivia; Elizabeth, Griffin, and Helen all experienced his good humor. He leaves a legacy through his charity to others and his guiding hand with business associates and customers of his company. They, as his family, will remember him as the “tough love” businessman whose word was his bond and who gave to many the chance to succeed if they would work as hard as he did to serve the customer.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Talbotton Baptist Church, 320 Jackson Avenue, Talbotton, Georgia 31827.