Glenwood Morris Jr.
Southampton native Pastor Glenwood Morris Jr. died on November 29 at Peconic Bay Medical Center. Known fondly as “Glenward,” he was 53.
Born in Southampton on January 2, 1957, to Margie and Glenwood Morris Sr., he graduated from Southampton High School in 1975. He attended C.W. Post University and the New York Theological Seminary, and, at one time served as vice president of the Southampton Board of Education. On August 15, 1981, he married Deborah Jean Ballard. He worked in various occupations and owned a business, Morris Lawn Care.
A follower of Christ since age 14, he was a member of Community Baptist Church in Southampton, serving on the usher board and in the church choir. He rededicated his life to the Lord in 1981 and preached his first trial sermon in 1983 at Mount Zion Church of God in Christ in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1993 he became the pastor at St. Paul Community Church in Riverhead. He later founded Genesis International Ministries in Queens.
He was an avid golfer and enjoyed fishing—being in a wheelchair never stopped him from either. According to family, his infectious laugh and jovial spirit made him loved by all.
In addition to his mother, Margie Morris of Southampton, and his wife Deborah Morris of Brooklyn, he is survived by two daughters, Canela and her husband Amos Ryan of Medford and Makeba Morris of South Carolina; a son Glenwood Morris III of Ridge; three sisters and their husbands, Beatrice and John Brown of Moriches, Debrah and William Morris-Williams of Yaphank, and Pat and Charles Overton of Michigan; three brothers and their wives, Reginald and Ava Morris of Southampton, William and Phyllis Morris of Riverhead, and Joseph and Helene Shannon of Nebraska; two grandchildren, Manijeh and Jalen Ryan of Medford; a sister-in-law, Sharon and her husband Louis Boncek of Oswego; and a number of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his father.
Services, officiated by the Reverend Keith Pettus, were held on December 4 at Southampton Full Gospel Church; the Reverend Edward Lanham delivered the eulogy. Interment followed at Southampton Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton.