Jewel Lily Holt Morris

Jewel Lily Holt Morris passed away on March 18 of natural causes in her William’s Island home in Aventura, Florida.

She was with her husband Robert Morris and her treasured friend and house manager, Omega Peru, according to family.

Ms. Morris was born in Morristown, Tennessee on December 30, 1947 to Belus Esau and Iva Mae Holt. After completing high school at age 16, she received a bachelor’s degree from East Tennessee State University. She went on to obtain an MBA from the University of Tennessee.

Ms. Morris began her professional career as a teacher in Clinton Tennessee, maintaining lasting relationships with her students for years to come, family said.

She later went on to work for Ginn Publishing and Xerox, where her hard work and dedication propelled her to the top of the organization. After Ms. Morris retired from her professional career, she turned her focus to her passion for philanthropy and the love of animals.

Ms. Morris started the Pet Philanthropy Circle, hosting numerous events to raise money for saving pets’ lives. She published cartoons that engaged viewers to “Adopt Not Shop.” She was active with Pet Fest, and a supporter and non-pilot volunteer with Pilots N Paws. She also started the Hampton’s Pet magazine, hosted the Let’s Talk About Animals show, and was the recipient for the American Humane Association’s Humanitarian Aid Award.

Ms. Morris never met a stranger. Her magnetic personality drew people to her. She had an amazing ability to truly connect with each person she met, according to family. Her generosity was unparalleled. She could be in a sea of people, and somehow her sparkling blue eyes and thousand watt smile would find a way to touch the souls of all those around her. She loved and cherished her friends passionately.

Ms. Morris believed in the One God, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, her family said. She would often write beautiful prayers as tributes of thanksgiving in her private worship. She felt it was her purpose to advocate for those who had no voice of their own.

She was predeceased by her brother Ralph Elroy Holt, her late husband James A. Fine, her father Belus Esau Holt, and her mother Iva Mae Holt.

She is survived by her husband Robert K. Morris; stepson David Morris; stepdaughter Jacqui Mandelbaum and her husband Eric Mandelbaum; step-grandsons Mathew and Craig Mandelbaum; her sister Petsy Rudacille; her nieces Lillian Rudacille and Susan Bell; her great nephews James Bell and John R. Bell, as well as the treasures of her heart, her rescue dogs Niki and Annie.

Due to the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, the family asks that friends and loved-ones honor the government’s request to keep social distance. Services will be private. Once the pandemic is over, a celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in her honor to either the Church of God General Conference www.coggc.org or Pet Philanthropy Circle at petcircle.org/benefactorsandonations.html.