MORRIS LEE WILLIAMS, SR.
BY GWEN HAYES
Sentinel Editor
A longtime educator, who was also very popular with his fraternity, passed away last Saturday, April 27, 2024. Born and raised in Port Tampa City, Morris Lee Williams, Sr. was 88 years old. His twin sister, Dr. Doris Williams Campbell, preceded him in death by 8 years.
Williams’ son, Myron, spent several hours interviewing his dad, gathering a wealth of information. Some of it is shared here.
The twins’ elementary school years were spent at Frederick Douglass Grade School. Following in the footsteps of older siblings, the twins went on to G. W. Carver Jr. High School, where they were at the top of the class, with the highest GPA, and awarded valedictorian and salutatorian honors.
It was on to high school (10th grade) at George S. Middleton High School in the Tampa neighborhood of Belmont Heights. Students from Port Tampa City were bused to G. S. Middleton High School.
Morris Williams played guard on the football team playing offense and defense. Williams graduated from Middleton in 1953 with honors.
In the fall of 1953, Morris and Doris headed to Atlanta, Georgia to attend college. Doris attending Clark College and Morrisattending Morehouse College. Their older sister, Marjorie and older brother, Kelly attended Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida.
Williams transferred from Morehouse College to Florida A&M University for the 1954-55 school term. At FAMU he majored in Biology, minored in Chemistry. He also joined the ROTC Program.
While attending FAMU, he pledged Omega Psi Phi Fraternity – Upsilon Psi Chapter, completing the process in 1955. He has been an active member of Omega for nearly 70 years. He has held all offices of the fraternity and has headed most committees. He has received many awards and honors from the fraternity, becoming a Life Member.
Williams graduated from FAMU in 1957, married Ernestine White of Winter Haven, Florida and began teaching at Ochlocknee Colored School in Ochlocknee, Georgia. His union with Ernestine White lasted some 25 years and produced four children: Morris, Jr., Myron, Gina, and Marcus. After one year, his teaching career continued at Magnolia Colored High School, before he transferred to Middleton High School in 1960.
At Middleton, he taught Biology, Chemistry and Physiology. When schools began to integrate in 1962, he transferred to East Bay High School in Gibsonton, Florida. During this time, the integration of schools was not off to the best start. So Hillsborough County Schools recruited Black educators to become Human Relations Specialists.
During the civil rights era, he and other students were involved in the downtown lunch counter sit-ins, etc.
Also while working at East Bay High School as a Human Relations Specialist, he began to pursue his Masters of High School and Administration Degree at the University of South Florida. After completing his master’s degree in the mid-seventies, he was transferred to Horace Mann Jr. High School as Dean of Students, Assistant Principal of Administration and Assistant Principal of Curriculum. He spent the last 3 years of his 40-year career serving as Assistant Principal of Franklin Jr. High School, Tampa. He also taught in the Night School Program for Adult learners at Middleton High School for 25 years.
His years of hard, dedicated work also led him in another direction.
In 1982 he married Christine Dillard Beasley of Greenville, South Carolina. Christine had two daughters, Audra and Stephanie, who immediately began calling him ‘Pops.’ They have been married for 36 years.
The unions produced 6 successful children as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren.
His childhood church was Mount Zion AME Church, Port Tampa City, Florida. He later worshiped at a Methodist Church in Thomasville, Georgia, St. James AME Church (Progress Village), and Harris Temple United Methodist Church, in Progress Village. Williams and his wife, Christine became faithful members of Keeney Chapel which was located in Clair Mel City.
Funeral services for Williams are Saturday, May 4, 2024, 10 a. m. at New Hope Church, 213 N. Knight Ave., Brandon 33510. (See Funeral Notice for additional information)
