Mary Belcher Morris

Mrs. Mary Ethel Belcher Morris, of Atlanta, passed into our Lord’s Arms on December 25th, 2018. Her parents, Grady and Orabelle Belcher, welcomed their firstborn, Mary Ethel, into the world on July 18, 1928. Her siblings include: Mr. Grady Belcher, Jr., Ms. Madeline Anne Belcher (deceased), Ms. Theresa Josephine Belcher (deceased), Mr. Patrick Williams Belcher, Ms. Virginia Rose Belcher, and Mr. Stephen Lamar Belcher. She married Phenecia Canon Morris April 21, 1949, and had a daughter, Marilyn Phenecia Morris.

Mary assisted her mother in caring for her six siblings. She was nicknamed “Bobbie” by her brother Grady, whom she called “Brother.” Grady, mimicking his big sister, decided to call Mary “Brother.” However, he pronounced it “Bobbie.” As a result, the name Bobbie stuck, and her family and friends forever lovingly called her Bobbie. The Belcher family continued to grow in love and size during the years, as did the Belcher children’s friends. Their friends in the Old Fourth Ward included many, but most special to Mary was Phenecia Morris, who considered the Belchers a second family.

Mary attended Our Lady of Lourdes Church from infancy through adulthood. She was baptized, received First Communion, Confirmation and was married to Phenecia Morris at Our Lady of Lourdes. She attended and graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes School for primary education. Her secondary school years were completed at Booker T. Washington High School. Her mother’s sister, Josephine, welcomed Mary to Washington, DC where she matriculated at Howard University. Due to wartime woes, she returned home to assist her family. Mary and Phenecia began dating steadily and married on April 21, 1949.

In the late 1950’s, Mary, her mother, Orabelle, and Grady, Jr. became involved in the development of a new Catholic church for African-Americans on the west side of Atlanta. They helped found St. Paul of the Cross Church parish. Throughout her life, Mary was an active member of St. Paul of the Cross where she participated as: president of the Jolly Bunch Senior Club; president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus #4420; chairwoman of the Atlanta Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women; board memberof Family Concerns and Community Affairs; vice-president of the Altar Rosary Society; Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) teacher of the Catholic catechism to youth; volunteer at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home; and several other church and community activities.

Mary and Phenecia chose adoption as a means to grow their family. Mary and Phenecia saw and fell in love with little Marilyn, who became their one and only. While raising their daughter, Mary earned her undergraduate degree from Morris Brown College and her Master of Science in Library Science, from Georgia State University. She entered the Atlanta Public School system as an elementary school teacher in the early sixties and retired as a high school librarian in 1990. During her retirement, Mary served as the head librarian at Beulah Heights Bible College from 1990-1994.

Mary will be remembered for her deep love of God, faith, family, friends and people. She embraced people lovingly and shared her love through her prepared meals. She was an incredible cook, who could taste a dish and match the recipe precisely. She prepared wonderful holiday meals for family and friends. Mary greatly enjoyed traveling abroad and cruising the seas in the Caribbean, Pacific, Hawaii or wherever a ship would go. Her love and caring attitude for all people will remain a beacon for her family to follow.

Mary is survived by a host of relatives including: Renelda Belcher (sister-in-law); (nieces) Teresa Crooks, Sherri Richardson (deceased) (Rick), Lisa Stephens (Howard), Raye-John Luttrell (Michael), Kimberly Belcher (deceased), Lacy Wilkes (Marcus), Stephanie Belcher; (nephews) Kevin Stith, David Yeates (Beverley), Michael Stith (Tia), Marc Stith, Tyrone Crooks; and several other relatives and friends.