Longtime Lincoln County educator and community leader, Melton McMorris Sr., died May 24, 2013.

Visitation is from 1 until 6 p.m. Friday at Williams Mortuary in Brookhaven, and the family will receive friends and relatives there from 6 until 8 p.m. Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at New Zion M.B. Church in Bogue Chitto, with the Rev. Eugene Edwards, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the New Zion-Norfield Cemetery in Bogue Chitto Cemetery. Repast will be in the church fellowship hall.

He was born on Oct. 15, 1924, in Bogue Chitto, the son of Sam and Della McMorris.

Mr. McMorris attended school in Lincoln County and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Jackson State University. He further studied at the University of Illinois and Southern University of Baton Rouge, and obtained his master’s degree at Utah State University.

He began his teaching career in the Lincoln County School System, where he also coached basketball and baseball. He retired after a 40-year career in education in Santa Maria, Calif. He also worked in Chicago and New Orleans as a cement finisher and receiving clerk.

Mr. McMorris received numerous awards. His community involvement in Lincoln County included past president of the American Red Cross and NAACP chapters, the Brookhaven chapter of the Jackson State University Alumni Association, and member of the Democratic Executive Board and the Bogue Chitto Community Center. He served as project director for the Mississippi Humanities Council and sponsor of the Mississippi Past, Present and Future program. He also initiated an after-school program for students on all grade levels.

At New Zion M.B. Church, he was chairman of the deacons’ ministry, financial secretary, Sunday school teacher, past Sunday superintendent, a member of the trustee, brotherhood, education and choir ministries, and deacon adviser to the kitchen ministry.

He was a veteran of World War II, where he earned the Good Conduct and World War II Victory medals.

Deacon McMorris was a mentor, counselor, friend and free-spirited man. His willingness to advise others, combined with his loving spirit for life and his strong work ethic will continue to inspire many.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Margarietta Cotton, Alice Dillon, Cora L. Dillon, Edith Dixon, Prince Albert McMorris, Booker T. McMorris, Ida Mae Mackey, Junaita LaBat, Irma Ford, Lillie Jackson and Welton McMorris.

Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Mary Frances Lyons McMorris; his children, Melton McMorris Jr., Charles McMorris and wife, Anita, Myrtis May, Myrtle Tate and husband, John, Larry McMorris, Jesse McMorris and wife, Sandra, Golda Krauss and husband, Jeff, Quitman McMorris and Emma McMorris; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.