Esther Stone Beckner Morris

She was born on February 6, 1916 to Dillard Morris Stone and Lucy Turner Stone. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, James Louis Beckner; her second husband, Pettus Thomas Morris; her daughter, Lucy Carol Beckner; her son, Andrew David Beckner; and five brothers, Edmund Lewis Stone, Alva Gerald Stone, Melvin Andrew Stone, Gordon Elliott Stone, and Eugene Dillard Stone.

Mrs. Morris was a graduate of Bassett High School and Madison College. Following college, she taught for five years at Spencer Penn School. She was a long-time member of Broad Street Christian Church as well as several civic and community organizations. One of her special interests was furthering the educational opportunities for young people with special needs and she was involved in starting the first special education classroom in Martinsville and Henry County.

Surviving are her son, James Louis Beckner, Jr. and wife Clarke of Collinsville; one step-son, Pettus Thomas Morris, Jr., of Peoria, Illinois; two step-daughters, Susan Thompson and Elizabeth Wharton and husband Mike, all of Fredericksburg; one sister, Mabel Stone Ingram, of Martinsville; six step-grandsons; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A graveside service, conducted by Reverend Mark Parkinson, Reverend Dr. James Dickerson, and Reverend Paul Johnson will be held at Oakwood Cemetery at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, December 23. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 27 at 2:00 p.m in the chapel at Kings Grant, with the Reverend Paul Johnson and Reverend Mark Parkinson officiating. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the memorial service at Kings Grant, and other times at the home of her son.

Memorial gifts may be made to Broad Street Christian Church, 106 Broad Street, Martinsville Virginia 24112.

Arrangements are by McKee-Stone Funeral Home in Martinsville.

To express condolences online, please visit www.collinsmckeestonemartinsville.com.