1/14/2016
Retired Bishop William Morris died this morning in his home. Please keep his family in your prayers. We will forward further information to you as plans are made.
William Wesley Morris was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was educated in the Baltimore school system. He also graduated from Ohio Wesleyan with an A.B. degree, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary with a B.D. degree, Scarritt College with an M.A. degree with distinction, and Vanderbilt University with a D.Min. degree.
While serving student appointments, Bill was ordained deacon and elder. He served Bethany Methodist Church, Chicago, Illinois, Union Avenue Community Methodist Church, Chicago, Illinois; Christ Methodist Church, Chicago, Illinois; Stanley Methodist Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee; John Wesley United Methodist Church, Nashville Tennessee and First United Methodist Church, Gallatin, Tennessee. He also served as an Associate Council Director, Council Director and District Superintendent of the Clarksville and Murfreesboro Districts, and on the General Council on Ministries.
On July 15, 1992, he was elected a bishop of the United Methodist Church at the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, where he was assigned to the Alabama-West Florida Area. In July of 2000, he was assigned to the Nashville Area. He served as president of the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits from 2000 to 2004, and then as a Trustee at Emory University. He retired in 2008.
He was married to the late Mary Head Morris of McMinnville, Tennessee, and they have four children: Loretta, Eva, Michael, and Mark. In 2006, he married Princilla Smart Evans.
Funeral services were January 20, 2016 at Gallatin United Methodist Church, 149 Main St., Gallatin, TN.
In lieu of flowers make donations to Religious Leaders of Fisk University, 1000 17th Ave. N.Nashville, TN.