Betty "Joyce" Avret Morgan

Our beloved mother, Betty Joyce Morgan, age 85, passed away on June 8, 2017 after a brief illness. Born in Macon, GA into abject poverty, she was reared on the mill village by her textile worker parents and raised to eternal glory with her Heavenly Father. Tall, fearless and athletic, Joyce graduated Miller High school in 1949, lettered in Varsity basketball and was in Girl Reserves. She attended Georgia State College for Women (GSCW) prior to enrolling in secretarial school. She learned how to swim after being thrown off a bridge into a creek in South Georgia, picked cotton, killed a water moccasin with a hoe, and had a root canal without novacine. She walked to school in cardboard lined shoes and was doing the family laundry at age 7. Despite being bullied by classmates who called her 4 eyes and lint head, she became a loyal daughter, loving friend, trusted confidante, and great encourager. Her fondest childhood memory was visiting her illiterate grandmother in Screven county, without whose unconditional love, her life would have been greatly diminished. In 1955, Joyce caught the Nancy Hanks train out of Bibb county with her meager possessions, relocated to Atlanta, secured employment, was married and became a mother within 16 months. In 1966 Joyce foresaw the need to establish a kindergarten in South Fulton county. She truly found her calling, and continued to teach and influence 5-year old’s for 25 years, serving as Preschool Director in Cliftondale and Fairburn. Later she worked at Bank of America. She taught women's Sunday school for 20 years, was a Girl Scout leader, played on church softball team, coached girls Little League, led AWANA and VBS. She was a voracious reader and gifted pianist, talented seamstress, and a lifelong learner with an inquisitive nature, who loved traveling and meeting people from different cultures and walks of life. Joyce was a teetotaler and strict disciplinarian (but no killjoy), who raised 3 children on a shoestring budget, and knows her ulcer started at the local A & P grocery, agonizing over which groceries she would have to put back when money ran short, as it often did. She was widely known for her delicious Southern cooking, but could not boil water when she married. Nor could she drive. Hysterically funny and a great conversationalist, others were drawn into her authentic presence by her self-deprecating humor, caring and direct approach. God fearing and hardworking, she was not one to put on airs, and remained a humble, salt of the earth servant who possessed skills which transferred to all her endeavors. The world could use more people like Joyce, with a large heart and small ego, sacrificing her comforts to help others. She used her gifts and service at Cliftondale Baptist Church. Her unwavering faith, integrity and Christian witness was recognized by all. She is predeceased by her parents, Nathaniel and Elizabeth Avret, husband of 56 years, Bobby Morgan, adored son in law Steve S. Tolleson. She is survived by siblings Dr. E. T. "Bud" (Stella) Avret and Beth (Charles) Martin. Also survived by 3 children: Mary (David) Hand, Mark (Karen) Morgan Ph.D., Jane Tolleson and 8 grandchildren: Christopher (Ashley) Bortolazzo, David Bortolazzo, Meredith Morgan Lewis (Chris), Jon (Linsey) Morgan, Stephen Tolleson, Tom Tolleson, Tyler Hand, Laura Hand, and 6 great grandchildren. Guests will be received from 5-7 at Parrott Funeral Home, 8355 Senoia Road, Fairburn on Wednesday, June 14. The funeral will be Thursday, June 15 at 11 am followed by internment at Holly Hill cemetery. We invite those who wish to do so to donate to Samaritan's Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 for the support of Christian relief work in 3rd world countries, in lieu of flowers.

Betty "Joyce" Avret Morgan

February 1, 1932 - June 8, 2017