NEWS: Joe Morris, Colbert, Madison Co, GA Submitted by Mary Love Berryman 25 Apr 2003 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************************** All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** Madison County Journal, 7 Jul 1999 Grand marshall reflects on life in Madison County BY MARGIE RICHARDS Joe Morris knows Colbert, and most of Colbert knows Joe Morris. Born and reared on Hardeman Morris Road just west of downtown, Morris has lived in the shadow of this Madison County town with the sound of the frequent trains rumbling through it all of his almost 83 years. "I don't even hear the trains anymore," Morris said. Since 1962, he has lived on Second Avenue inside the Colbert city limits, and within sight of his church, Colbert United Methodist. He has seen many changes over the years, the latest being the widening of Hwy. 72 through downtown. Morris can remember a time when the "main drag" was a dirt road that ran along where his street is today. Morris has faced one of his most difficult challenges this year - the loss of his beloved wife Agnes in March, after 62 years of marriage. He and Agnes reared five children together and ran a farm; later both worked "public jobs." But Morris is quick to point out that their greatest joy always came from their family, and that joy has continued for him as he learns to go on with life without her. Morris is grandfather to 12 and great-grandfather to 10, with two more on the way. And he has reason to look forward to a good many more years to enjoy his family; his father, J.R. Morris, another lifelong Colbert resident, lived to see the age of 103 and was Colbert's oldest living resident for a number of years. As in years past, the family gathered for Colbert's Fourth of July celebration, bringing out the lawn chairs and placing them next to the road to watch the parade that comes right by Morris's home. But this year, while mourning the loss of their beloved mother and grandmother, the family was also excited to watch their dad and granddad participate as one of the grand marshals in the parade. Morris was one of six 80-plus residents or former residents, of Colbert to serve as this year's grand marshals as the city celebrated its 100th year. Besides his family, Morris derives a lot of pleasure from his thriving vegetable garden. According to daughter Dee Osborne, there was never a time when her parents didn't have a garden. This year the garden is flourishing with squash, beans, tomatoes, okra and corn. Morris tends it himself, with a little help with plowing from his family.