William C. Morris, Jr., of Asheville died on Friday, October 24, 2008, at the age of 83 of complications from Parkinson’s disease and a stroke. 

He was born June 5, 1925, in Brevard, NC, where he grew up.  After attending the University of Tampa for one year on a football scholarship, he joined the United States Navy at age 18 in 1943.  He attended the Navy Pre-flight School at the University of Georgia.  He served as a navigator on a Navy PB4Y-1 Liberator reconnaissance and patrol aircraft in the North Pacific and was based in the Aleutian Islands.  He was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant (J.G.) following the war in 1946.  He then attended the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity.  He received a B.A. from UNC in 1949 and a Juris Doctor degree with honors from the UNC School of Law in 1952, where he was a member of the NC Law Review.   

He joined the Asheville law firm of Williams & Williams in 1952.  It later became known variously as “Williams, Williams & Morris”, “Williams, Morris & Golding” with the addition of James N. Golding, “Morris, Golding, Blue and Phillips” with the addition of James F. Blue, III, and Ann H. Phillips, etc., as others joined the firm.  Morris’ practice was focused in civil litigation, primarily defending individuals and companies against a variety of lawsuits, including automobile/truck accidents, medical malpractice, workers’ compensation, and insurance disputes.  He tried hundreds of civil cases in state and federal courtrooms all over the State of North Carolina, mostly from Hickory and Shelby west.  He practiced law in Asheville for 50 years until his retirement in 2002.

Among the leadership positions held, he served as president of the Asheville Junior Chamber of Commerce, president of the Rotary Club of Asheville, Senior Warden of Trinity Episcopal Church, Senior Warden of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, a member of the Board of Governors of the NC Bar Association, a member of the Buncombe County Morehead Scholarship Selection Committee, and a member of the Board of Trustees of The Asheville School.  He was a member of the Zebulon B. Vance Debating Society, the Country Club of Asheville, the Biltmore Forest Country Club, Rhododendron Royal Brigade of Guards, the Carolina Mountain Club, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and the Society of Mary.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Virginia H. Morris, his daughter, Rebecca M. Pullease of Asheville, his son William C. Morris, III, of Brevard, his granddaughter Laura Morris of Boone, and his brother Robert K. Morris of Raleigh.

A Requiem Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on the corner of Charlotte Street and Macon Avenue on Saturday, November 1, 2008, at 11:00 a.m., followed by interment of his ashes at the Wayside Shrine on the church grounds.   In honor of his love of Dixieland, there will be a traditional jazz procession to the interment of ashes and then to the reception and celebration of his life in the parish hall, where the Firecracker Jazz Band will play in the background.

At the request of the family, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Mary’s Episcopal Church Capital Campaign, 30 Macon Avenue #2, Asheville, NC 28801.