Morris, Wilson Joshua
Wilson Joshua “Will” Morris, 93, died on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, at his home in Copper Hill, Floyd County, Virginia. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., on July 11, 1929, to Robert John Morris Sr. and Martha Ann Harrison Morris, who predeceased him. He was also predeceased by his sister, Martha Ann Morris Stuart Patch; brother-in-law, Mac Patch; sister-in-law, Esther Ferguson Morris; his brother, Robert John Morris Jr.; and his brother-in-law, Gilbert Barton.
Will is survived by his wife, Harriett Suzanne “Sue” Morris; daughter, Ann Amelia Morris Burke; son, William Kim Morris and wife, Margie; three grandsons, Steven, Matthew, and Joshua and wife, Mary; one granddaughter, Megan and husband, Marty Stuart; and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Thomas Harrison Morris; sister, Naomi Morris Barton; brother-in-law, Paul Collier and wife, Dean Ann; special nieces, Elizabeth Collier and Jacqui Bradford; and nephew, John Paul Jeffers.
Will was a long-time member of the Copper Hill Church of the Brethren congregation where he enjoyed singing in the choir. He also served as a Sunday School teacher, a Deacon, a delegate to the Virlina District Conference and to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference and on several local church committees. Will was always willing to help his neighbor in any way he could.
Will was raised in the Pittsburgh area and graduated from Richland Township High School in June of 1949. He served in the United States Air Force from 1950 to 1954. He worked in automobile sales for many years. While working as the new car sales manager for a large Buick dealership, he hired the first African American new car salesman in Washington, D.C. After moving to Roanoke in 1970, he worked in automobile sales and eventually went to work for the United States Postal Service, first as a rural letter carrier and then as a city letter carrier. After retiring from the Postal Service, he worked as a school bus driver for the Floyd County School System, finally retiring at the age of 80.
Will was a member of the Southwest Virginia Walk to Emmaus Community and was very active in the Kairos Prison Ministry of Virginia.
At the age of 80, Will got a motorcycle. He and Sue joined the Mountain Cruse Riders of the Christian Motorcyclists Association. Will especially enjoyed riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at the Copper Hill Church of the Brethren with Pastor Bill Hinton and Pastor Dan Johnson officiating. The family requests that masks be worn during the service. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.Oakeys.com.
Arrangements by Oakey’s Funeral Service – South Chapel, Roanoke, Va., (540) 989-3131.