Jessamine Bowles Boyce Morris

She was born in Gastonia, N.C., on August 25, 1920, the only child of Erskine E. Boyce and Margaret Thomas Boyce. She was raised for the most part by her maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Thomas in Durham, N.C.; she also lived in California, Gastonia and Florida, often joining her parents in their frequent moves. She was married to Hargrove Bowles, Jr., who died in 1986, for 35 years; together they raised four children in Greensboro.

In the latter part of her life, she was blessed to fall in love and marry Lewis Speight Morris, whom she often called the "sweetest man I've ever known". They were married in 2001 and spent seven happy years in Greensboro and Figure Eight Island. She came to love Mr. Morris’s children and gratefully appreciated their kindness and attention. Mr. Morris died in 2008.

Mrs. Morris held various volunteer positions throughout her lifetime. She was instrumental in providing school lunches for needy children in the 1950s. She served on the boards of the Roanoke Island Historical Society, the Humane Society of Greensboro, The Witherspoon Gallery and the Children's Home Society of North Carolina.

She was a member of the Greensboro Junior League and served as President of The Assembly, The Wednesday Literary Club and The Green Thumb Garden Club. Over the years, she supported her first husband and her second son in their various political endeavors.

Mrs. Morris was a long-time member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church where she enjoyed many years of participation in study groups, teaching her group, and working in the church garden.

She is survived by her son Hargrove Bowles, 111 and his wife Olga Fields Bowles of Travelers Rest, S.C., her son Erskine Boyce Bowles and his wife Crandall Close Bowles of Charlotte, her daughter Holly Bowles Blanton and her husband William J. Blanton of Raleigh, and her late daughter Martha's husband Geoffrey Curme and his wife Sarah Kraft Curme of Charlotte; grandchildren Kelly and Clay Young of Charlotte, Amy and Michael Propst of Raleigh, Bogie Bowles of Orem, UT, Sam and Laura Bowles of Charlotte, Annie Bowles and Eric Wilkins of Charlotte, Bill and Taylor Bowles of Austin, TX, Annie Geil Godwin of Raleigh, Katy and Garrett Smyth of Raleigh, Krista and George Young of Raleigh, Kelly and Kevin Anderson of Raleigh, Jon Curme of Raleigh, Maggie Curme of Charlotte, and 20 great grandchildren.

Also surviving are step-children Lewis and Maggie Morris of Chapel Hill, Jim and Laurie Morris of Greensboro, and Walker and Katie Morris of Southern Pines; and numerous step-grandchildren and step-great children who they both loved.

The families sincerely wish to thank Mary King, Darolyn Sayers, and the nurses and staff at Wellspring Retirement Center for their many kindnesses and their loving care.

Services will be held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 607 North Greene Street, Greensboro, on Monday, August 29, 2011 at 2:00 PM following a private burial earlier that morning. The family will greet friends in the Haywood Duke Room after the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Children's Home Society of North Carolina, 604 Meadow St., Greensboro, N.C. 27405; Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 607 N. Greene St., Greensboro, N.C. 27401; or Fellowship Hall: P.O. Box 13890, Greensboro, N.C. 27415.

On line condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com.