Obituaries

Grant C. Morris “GC”

Grant C. Morris, (“GC”), 86, peacefully passed in his sleep early Thursday morning holding the hand of his wife of 64 years.  

GC lived a full life not often seen these days. He was born in 1935 and raised on a farm in the small town of Eureka, North Carolina with his parents, George C. and Fannie Morris, as well as his brother and sisters, Edward Morris, Hazel Lamm, Edna Earl Pittman, Mary Daley Lancaster, and Barbara High.

In the 11th grade, GC enlisted in the Army and fought for his country at the frontline in the Korean War, a time of which he would rarely speak. After his service, he returned to North Carolina and finished high school.

GC married the love of his life, Elizabeth Easter Morris, in 1957. He learned to weld, and in 1962, they moved to Hampton, Virginia to start a new job at the Newport News Shipyard. GC mastered his trade and joined the Local 45 Boilermakers with whom he was known as “Porkchop.” He worked up and down the East Coast and on major projects, such as building the Surry Nuclear facility.  

During these years, GC and Elizabeth raised a family, with sons Jerry, who they tragically lost in 2000, and Calvin, who was by his father’s side when he passed. Their marriage of 64 years was as passionate in private as it was unified and strong in public. GC and Elizbeth were lifetime sweethearts and full partners in everything they did. She is heartbroken, to say the least.

GC and Elizabeth spent most of their time with friends and family camping and traveling, receiving guest after guest in their home to, “Sit down and stay awhile.” After retirement, GC treasured his Saturday morning breakfasts at the Warwick Restaurant with his friends from the Local 45.

GC had a lot of family whom he loved dearly. He treasured his best friend and son Calvin, Calvin’s wife Shannon, and his granddaughter Hollie. He let Drina Northam and Leonard Bennett into his family and cared for and loved their boys Paul and Leo Bennett Northam as his own grandsons. He is survived by Elizabeth’s mother, Maria Easter of Wilson, North Carolina, Elizabeth brothers, and their wives, Timothy and Ramona Easter, Wilson, North Carolina, and Mike and Debra Easter, Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and Elizabeth’s sister, Patricia Dameron, Purlear, North Carolina. GC is also survived and loved by many nieces and nephews.

GC was loved in life and will be ever after.   

Services will be held at Peninsula Funeral Home on Monday, December 6, 2021. The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. followed by a service at 2 p. m. Family and friends are welcome to come by the home of GC and Elizabeth following the interment at Peninsula Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family asks contributions be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl, Memphis, TN 38105 (www.stjude.org/).

Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601.

 

3 Comments

  1. Shelva Barkley

    Best regards at this sad time. We will surely miss GC. He always seemed pleased when we visited. Wish we could have visited more often. Take care of yourself. We will talk later after things get settled down. You are in our prayers. Love you so much. Shelva and Harold.

  2. Calvin and Ellen Carter

    Sorry to hear about G. C. We will surely miss him. Just got the news tonight from Edna. Praying and thinking about you and your family at this time. So glad we got to visit with the two of you not too long ago. Calvin and Ellen Carter

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