Betty Katherine Morris

Betty Katherine Morris, age 83 of Rocky Mount passed peacefully at her home on Sunday, February 6, 2022. Poet Walter Savage Landor said, “Music is God’s gift to man, the only art of Heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to heaven.” Betty was born in Horsepasture, Virginia on August 22, 1938. She was the only child of Elree Blaine Morris and Nora Almeda Tatum Morris. Although she was an only child, she was close to all of her cousins which she considered as brothers and sisters rather than cousins. Betty grew up surrounded by music. Her mother put her playpen beside a piano when she was big enough to stand., thus her love of music began at an early age. Many of her cousins played musical instruments also, with some of them forming a blue grass band called the Log Cabin Boys. She played with them at family reunions and at other venues when they performed. She had a gift of playing by ear which allowed her the freedom to play at will. Betty used her gift to play at many churches in the area, and she served God in this capacity for the majority of her life. Two ladies she enjoyed sharing her gift of music with were pianists Norma Fuller while attending Rich Acres Christian Church and Jeanie Mann when she attended Hillcrest Baptist Church in Martinsville. She was director of the choir and played for church services at Pleasant Hill Church in Rocky Mount after she moved from Ridgeway until Parkinson’s Disease robbed her of her ability to play. Her other passion was sports. Everyone who knew her, could talk baseball, basketball, and football with her. There was always a ball game of some sort on her television, and she especially enjoyed watching her grandson play ball when he was younger. She never missed any of his games. She also supported her company men’s baseball team when she worked at J&J Southeast now Georgia Pacific in Martinsville, Virginia. She worked there for 35 years until her retirement as Human Resource Manager. Betty was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Benjamin E. “Eddie” Morris. She is survived by her children Katherine L. "Kathy” Morris and Kenneth E. “Ken” Morris. Grandchildren Hillary M. Ashe and husband Corey, Kaylee L. Lovelace and husband Devan, and Brandon K. Morris and wife Sierra. Betty loved her great-grandchildren Laken and Raylan Ashe, Stone Lovelace, and Tatum “Tate” Morris. She always looked forward to their visits with her as they were precious to her. The family also wants to include the ladies who worked and cared for Betty in the home who have become family. Phyllis Gilbert, Lois Muse, Carolyn Mattox, and Tammy Peters cared for Betty, and the family is indebted to them for the help and love they gave to her throughout the duration of her illness. The family would also like to thank Carilion Clinic Hospice-Franklin for their care and support to her and the family with a special thank you to Sharon, Susan, and Jewel for making her smile and providing her with all the care she needed during their visits. The family will visit with extended family and friends at the home before the day of the service, and requests that no food be brought to the home. In lieu of flowers, donations to a favorite church for their music program will honor her love for music, or donations can be given in her honor to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research which she bravely fought for over 14 years. Funeral services will be private due to COVID concerns but will be conducted from Flora Funeral Chapel by the Reverend Doug Ramsey. Interment will follow in Franklin Memorial Park. Arrangements by  Flora Funeral Service & Cremation Center, Rocky Mount, Virginia.