Patricia A. Morris

Patricia Ann Portero (Morris) began life’s journey at home in Columbia, Mississippi on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1935, during the midst of the Great Depression. Her parents were Tony and Ida Portero, an auto mechanic and homemaker. The fourth of six children, she grew up in Columbia where she graduated from Columbia High School in 1953. She worked for W. E. Walker (W. E. Walker Stores) until her first child was born in 1957. She married Joe C. Morris, also of Columbia, on July 13, 1956.

Patty and Joe raised their three children, Joe Jr., Lucretia and Cynthia, in the country just north of Columbia, along with a few dogs and cats, a couple of horses and one raccoon. Patty worked as a stay-at-home Mom, her children being very grateful to have had her uninterrupted presence during their childhood. The family moved to Madison County in 1976 when the family business expanded to the Jackson area.

Over the course of her long life, Patty enjoyed cooking, sewing, quilting, needlework, gardening, canning, making floral arrangements, playing cards with friends, and traveling the country.

When her children were attending a school that did not have a lunch program, she got up very early every weekday morning and prepared them a fully cooked meal to take to school for their lunch (very often including fried chicken). That was IN ADDITION to the hot breakfast she prepared for them every morning before they caught the bus!

Her travel adventures began on her wedding day when she and Joe set out on their honeymoon, driving to the U. S. Marine Corps base in Miami where Joe, a Marine, was stationed. Later, she would travel the country with her family, first in a pick-up camper, then an Airstream trailer and finally, with Joe, in a few motor homes. During her travels, Patty was able to visit all 50 states and several foreign countries. One of her most memorable trips was the “journey” she and Joe made to Alaska, driving their motor home nearly 12,000 miles round-trip.

Patty accepted Christ at age 11 and was a member of First Baptist Church Columbia for 30 years and later, Broadmoor Baptist Church (Madison), for 45 years.

She completed life’s journey at home on February 12, 2022. Her last day was her best day because it was on that day that she met her Lord and Savior in person.

She leaves behind her husband, Joe C. Morris; her children, Joe C. Morris, Jr. (Michelle), Lucretia Andrews (Andy) and Cynthia Herrington (Craig); grandchildren, Matthew Herrington (Meg), Kyle Herrington (Sarah), Virginia Morris and Joseph Cullen Morris, III; great grandchildren, Lily Herrington, Wyatt Herrington, Ben Herrington and Baby Herrington (in route); siblings, Duane Portero (Carolyn), Charlie Portero (Gail); brother-in-law, C. H. Cook; sister-in-law, Georgia Ann Portero and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Predeceasing her were her parents, Tony and Ida Portero, and siblings, Tony “Sonny” Portero, Mary Louise Cook, and Nancy Lowery; and brother-in-law, Earl Lowery.

In lieu flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Hospice Ministries, Inc. (Ridgeland, MS) or the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.