Obituary of Thora Ross Morris ~ 2009

Transcribed by Joan S Dunn

Source: Washington Daily News Feb 26 2009

Thora Ross Morris, of 20 Meadowlark Lane, Hilton Head Is, SC died on 
February 23, at her daughter’s home on Spring Island, SC. 
A longtime native of Jacksonville, NC, Thora Morris was born on March 20, 
1923 in Lowland, NC, the daughter of Sina Rice Ross and Ellis X. Ross. 
She grew up in Belhaven, NC and graduated from John A. Wilkinson High 
School in 1939. She graduated from The Woman’s College of The University 
of North Carolina in 1943 with a B.S. in Secretarial Administration. She 
married her husband of 59 years, Sam J. Morris, Jr. of Raleigh, NC in 
August 1943 in El Paso, TX where Mr. Morris was stationed at flight school 
with the U.S. Army Air Corps.  
Retiring in 1985, she worked for over 20 years with the North Carolina 
Employment Security Commission and was awarded the State Employee Award of 
Honor, for her outstanding performance and dedication. As Manager of the 
Jacksonville, NC Employment Security Commission, she won praise from 
businesses and local citizens alike for locating hundreds of workers 
throughout Onslow County, NC.  
She was an avid gardener and member of the Gardenerettes Garden Club in 
Jacksonville, NC. Her home and garden were recently featured on the 
Cypress Tour of Homes. She and Sam Morris were longtime members of the 
Jacksonville Country Club and founding members of the Onslow Cotillion. 
During their later years together she and her husband enjoyed traveling 
to Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, North Africa, and Asia.  
Known as Mamatoo to her grandchildren and their friends, she is remembered 
by her family and friends most of all for her extraordinary graciousness, 
warmth, and loving kindness.  
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Betsy Morris Chaffin and 
James J Chaffin, Jr. of Spring Island, SC, and Snowmass Village, CO; a 
son, Samuel J Morris III, of Washington DC; two grandchildren, Anna 
Chaffin Lambiotte of Truckee, CA, and James Christopher Chaffin of 
Waynesville, NC; and three great-grandchildren, James Hutson Chaffin and 
Celia Frances Chaffin of Waynesville, NC, and Scout Ross Lambiotte of 
Truckee, CA.  
A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 28 at 4 p.m. at The 
Cypress Club on Hilton Head Island, SC.  
The Island Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.





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