Willie Morris

Surrounded by her family and loved ones, Willie M. Morris, beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Aunt, and Friend transitioned from this life into eternal presence of God on Monday, May 29, 2023 peacefully at home.

Willie, affectionately known by close family as “Dunche”, was born on July 28, 1934 in Patrick County, Virginia to the late Vivian V. Ingram-Hairston and late Cephus B. Hairston.

Willie attended Patrick Henry County Public School and before relocating to Connecticut, she attended nursing school in Roanoke, Virginia.

Willie married her “Honeydew”, late husband Raymond J. Morris. From this union was born one son, Swanie E. Morris, and two daughters, Isola Morris-Stokes and Effie Morris-Ferguson. Willie was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond J. Morris and daughter, Isola Morris-Stokes.

In 1957, Willie and her late husband, Raymond J. Morris, moved to Connecticut with their children where she became a member of Mount Aery Baptist Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Willie retired after over thirty years of nursing from St. Joseph’s Manor in Trumbull, Connecticut. She loved her patients that she cared for and they loved her back. She always had a caring sprit and kind heart.

Willie was a dedicated wife, daughter, and mother. She was also affectionately called “Mother Morris” by her children’s friends and “Grandma Morris” by her grandchildren’s friends. She treasured every single moment with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed traveling, interior design, crocheting, arts and crafts, music, cooking, and preparing delicious meals for family and friends.

Willie had a green thumb and enjoyed gardening. She planted vegetables, various fruit trees, and berries. She loved beautiful flowers.

Willie also loved to make others laugh with her wittiness. Some of her famous sayings were: “You can’t keep a good woman down”, “Keep on keeping on”, “Keep the faith”, “Dab Shab”, “Go with the flow”, “It’s hard to be good but easy to be bad”, and greeting her son by saying “Howdy!”.

Left to cherish precious memories and to celebrate her life are son, Swanie E. Morris and daughter, Effie Morris-Ferguson (John). One son-in-law, William D. Stokes (Isola). Five grandchildren, Mathew J. Stokes, Shavonne Ely (Jon Jr.), Tiana Simon, Alesha Morris-Parker (Gerry Jr.), Kyara Kennedy, John D. Ferguson II, and Raymond M. Ferguson. Twelve great-grandchildren, Julius, Josiah, Kaylin, Jon III, Markel, Mahki, Malachi, Makayla, Arielle, Aaliyah, Gerry, Geremy, and a host of relatives and friends.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at Collins Funeral Home, 30 Riverside Hwy, Bassett, VA. Burial will follow in the Morris-Hairston Family Cemetery, 2300 Willie Craig Road, Bassett,