Calvin A. Morris

Calvin Alandos Morris, 92, was born November 15, 1931, in Maggoty, Saint Elizabeth Parrish, Jamaica, to Lorraine (Ms. Lorrie) Banton; he was the third child of five children to MS Lorrie. (Dad) Calvin was a much-wanted and loved child who happily spoke about how much he loved his childhood and his close bond with his mother, brother, and sisters. He later showed this unconditional love to his darling wife, Violet.

(Dad) Calvin was a much-loved man. His first job was working on a farm at a very young age. He learned that not everyone was honorable after a month of working for the farmer Mr. Bill when he went for his wages, and there were none. His second significant job was working as a migrant contract worker in the US, picking fruits and oranges for two years. Then, he went back to Jamaica to continue doing farm work. Dad loved agriculture and farming, and he was very good at it.

Dad's close friend from Jamaica, who was living in England, sponsored him to work in Wolverhampton, England. Dad took the opportunity, went to England, got work, and settled there. Dad's cousin Elferda invited Mom to a gathering of friends in Birmingham. It was here that Mom and Dad met each other. That began a unique friendship that turned into love, followed by their beautiful wedding.

Mom and Dad initially moved to Wolverhampton, England, where Dad worked in various industries. They later moved back to Birmingham for better work opportunities and purchased a family home. In July 1979, they, along with their daughters Janet and Sandra, immigrated to Westbury, NY. Initially, they temporarily stayed with Mom's brother, Euton Watson, and his wife, Sylvia. Later, they moved to a rented home downstairs from Ms. Pat, who helped Mom and Dad secure jobs. In 1980, Janet joined the U.S. military. Finally, in 1982, Mom and Dad purchased their first home in America at 9 Pinetree Road, Westbury, New York, where they lived with Sandra until she went to college and later relocated to Florida.

After moving to America, my dad developed a deep passion for serving in the church community. He had always adored children and dedicated himself to driving them to Sunday school, regardless of the weather. He approached this responsibility with utmost seriousness, and even in his final days, he would speak with tremendous joy and pride about this work.

As Dad’s children, we have so many beautiful memories of what a great father he was. He was a great provider with his green thumb. He grew various fruits, vegetables, herbs, and even beautiful flowers. If something was to be pickled from his garden, Dad found a way to preserve it and provide for his family. We did not know what Farm to Table meant as children. We had 4 apple trees, onions, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, beets, potatoes, and many more vegetables, gooseberry, raspberry, blueberry, and many more fruits, and 60 rose bushes, coronation bushes, Geranium, and so many more flowers. One of Dad’s gardening encouragement to us as children was to get us to dig potato trenches with him, and together, we would plant seed potatoes; as a reward, we were given strawberry plants that he helped us to plant. This is so that we could eat delicious strawberries in the summertime.

Dad loved sports like horse racing, cricket, football, and wrestling. You could not sit too close to him on the couch while he was watching wrestling because he was always moving around to mimic the wrestler's moves. If we sat too close to Dad, we might have been in a headlock or pile-driving on the sofa. As Dad swayed, we swayed on the couch. We all had a good time watching wrestling with him.

When we sat around the table with Dad, he would point to something as a distraction with an alarm in his voice, and everyone would look away. He would then take a small piece of food from one of our plates and eat it, then start laughing; the best was when we had ice cream, which was rare.

Dad was a smart dresser, always looking smart in suits or casual wear. Dad was very organized; whether it was his tools or how he designed his garden, garage, closet, or dresser drawers, everything was structured in Dad's special organized way. You could ask him where something is that he put away, and he will tell you in a minute. He could build anything with anything we would call today recycled-up. Whether it was cutting down bamboo, using old screen pool frames, or any old thing, Dad would use it to build a trellis, a fence, or anything else he wanted in his garden. When it came to packing a suitcase or organizing things in his home or anywhere else, he would put any professional organizer to shame. Dad could build a handle out of string for a box stronger than a leather handle. He was the best dad!!

Dad had an incredible sense of humor. On one occasion in England, Mom and Dad were gathering at the house with friends, and in the middle of the gathering, no one could find Dad. The doorbell rings, Annette answers the door, and there is Dad dressed in Mom's wedding dress, veil, and heels; in a high-pitched squeaky voice, he asks everyone, where is Mr. Morris? Where is Mr. Morris? He came into the house demanding this, and all their friends, including our family, laughed hysterically on the floor. Dad loved listening to old comedies such as Ms. Louise Bennett, Bim and Bam.

Mom and Dad maintained a beautiful sense of fun throughout their married life, which involved teasing and laughing with each other, and Mom laughed at Dad's antics. They remained each other's best friends. They took their vows seriously, and this strong, loving bond endured until Dad's last breath. Throughout Dad’s life, and particularly towards the end of his life, Mom disregarded her own needs to ensure Dad’s every need was met.

Most young couples entering into marriage could only hope to have a strong bond that lasts as long as mom and dad.

We had the BEST dad ever. He left us wanting more of him. Dad leaves behind his beloved best friend and wife, Brinelled Violet Morris, sister Eulalee Wright, Son Roy Clempson, Daughter Joan Jackson, Annette Castro-Griffiths, Janet Omoregie, and Sandra Morris-Rivera, Grandchildren Michael Jackson, Jonathan Alexander, Christine Grewal, James Castro-Griffiths, Phillip Alexander, Lara Castro-Griffiths, Malik Rivera-Morris, Nicos Rivera-Morris, Naomi Jackson, and great-grandchildren Jemel Jackson, Maya Grewal, Nathaniel Grewal, Jacob Alexander, Patrick Alexander, Aleena Grewal, Sage Rivera, and Imani Jackson, as well several nieces and nephews.

Here are the Zoom information for the funeral of Calvin Morris.

ZOOM - FDWC Noel Gordon is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Faith Deliverance Worship Center Sunday Service

Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/76505971747?pwd=M2Rab3drMUgxeHhIVVg2M0xKcmVTQT09

Meeting ID: 765 0597 1747

Password: fdwc

A public visitation for Calvin will be held Wednesday, June 19, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at External Service Location, 1965 S John Young Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32805. A funeral service will occur Wednesday, June 19, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 1965 S John Young Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32805. A graveside committal will occur Wednesday, June 19, 2024 from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM at Osceola Memory Gardens Cemetery, Funeral Homes & Crematory, 1717 Old Boggy Creek Rd, Kissimmee, FL 34744. A reception will occur Wednesday, June 19, 2024 from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM, 1965 S John Young Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32805.