Van M. Morris Jr.

Van M. Morris, Jr., 101, of Ridgeland, MS died peacefully on October 23, 2026, at 8:30 AM. He was born in Columbia, MS on July 18, 1925. Van was the eldest of six children born to Van M. Morris, Sr. and Lillie Cox Morris of Columbia.

Van was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was a true gentleman and a friend to all. He was known for his caring, loving, and optimistic spirit. Most of all, he was known for his love for the Lord.

Van was preceded in death by his father Van Morris, his mother Lillie Cox Morris, sister Regina Morris Lockhart (Dallas, TX), and brothers Fleet Morris (Ridgeland, MS), Ralph Morris (Hattiesburg, MS), and Liston Morris (Columbia, MS). He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Dorothy Pittman Morris, his son Charles Morris and wife Debbie (Ridgeland, MS), daughter Janet Stephenson and husband Bob (Ridgeland, MS), and grandchildren Sarah Willis and husband Ben (Brookhaven, MS), Katherine Morris (Ridgeland, MS), Robert Stephenson (Ridgeland, MS), Elizabeth Stephenson (Ridgeland, MS), and Charles Stephenson (Oxford, MS). Van is also survived by his youngest brother Joe Morris (Madison, MS).

Van proudly served his country in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He enlisted at the age of seventeen and in a few brief months was transported from a sheltered, land-loving, small-town Mississippi boy to a U.S. Navy sailor on the open seas thousands of miles away from home. He was plucked from one world and dropped into another; a world strange, foreign, and distant from anything he had known. Despite the upheaval, Van adapted and served his country well. Van served in the Hospital Corps as a Pharmacist Mate. He saw major action serving in support of several campaigns, most notably at Guadalcanal, Luzon, and Okinawa. Van earned distinction for his service as the recipient of four war time active service medals.

After an honorable discharge in 1945, Van returned to his home in Columbia. Following a brief wanderlust journey, Van attended Mississippi College. After college he returned home and in 1949 entered the petroleum business with his father and brother Fleet Morris. Together they founded Van Morris and Sons, a gasoline distributor for Sinclair Oil Company. Eventually all five brothers entered the business. Over the next thirty plus years the company expanded geographically and in scope, eventually becoming the state’s largest Shell Oil Company jobbership. In 1992 the five brothers divided the company and Van then entered business with his son Charles, his brother Joe, and nephew Joe, Jr.

Van was a member of Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison, MS and a former member of First Baptist Church Jackson, MS and First Baptist Church Columbia, MS. Van’s days at Broadmoor were limited by his advancing age, but he cherished being a part of the Britt Sunday school class. While at First Baptist Jackson, Van took great joy in serving as a Greeter at the Preschool entrance and in his membership in the Explorers Sunday school class. At First Baptist Columbia, he served many years as a Sunday school teacher and worked on various committees.

In his later years, Van would tell you that he had lived a lie for over eighty years. It wasn’t until the age of eighty-seven that Van ultimately accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He had previously lived under the false assumption that living a good life, faithful church attendance, “works”, and unrepentant baptism would save him. However, following his brother Fleet’s serious illness in 2013, Van began to question his own salvation; and, under the Holy Spirit’s conviction through an article written in The Baptist Record by Dr. Jim Futral, Van recognized his depravity, lostness, and need of a Savior. At the age of eighty-seven Van made the ultimate decision to accept Christ as his savior. Van clearly demonstrated that it is never too late. His life mission ever since, and even in his death, is that all would realize their lostness and need of a savior before it is too late.

Van spent the final years of his life in skilled nursing care. First at The Arbor in Ridgeland and then at St. Catherine’s in Madison. The family would like to thank the management and staff of both facilities for the excellent care, compassion, and love extended to our husband, father, and grandfather. He genuinely loved each one of you and we do as well. The family especially wants to thank and recognize Leigh, Stacey, Kenyatta, Emma, Fred, and Daddy’s “best friend” Ken from The Arbor, and Marlena, Brenda, Jennifer, Kristin, Krystal, Olivia, Elaine, Jared, Ebony, Janice, Precious, Ida, Nee Nee, Carolyn, Shelia, Priscilla, Felichia, Fredricka, Ashley, Shontae, Scott, and Chris from St. Catherine’s. God has used you in an impactful way, thank you!

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 29, 2026, from 12 noon to 2 PM at Parkway Funeral Home, 1161 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS 39157. Funeral services will be immediately following at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family ask that donations be made to Van’s favorite charity designation, the Lottie Moon Christmas offerings of, Broadmoor Baptist Church, 1531 Highland Colony Parkway, Madison, MS 39110, or First Baptist Church, 431 N State St., Jackson, MS 39201.