Dr. Fred W Morrison was born in Cabarrus County and raised in North Carolina. He attended UNC at Chapel Hill as an undergraduate and received a PhD. from Columbia in Education. He returned to North Carolina and went to work for Governor O. Max Gardner. He later read for the Bar under one of the Judges in Raleigh and within six months had passed his Bar Exam. Following Governor Gardner’s term in office, the two organized the Law Firm of Gardner, Morrison and Rogers in Washington, DC. Down through the years of the 20th century, Dr. Morrison walked and talked with the great of North Carolina and the nation and many benefited from his counsel. His philanthropy was far reaching, and on the occasion of his death in 1985 at the age of 94, his friend, Mr. Sam Ragan, made reference to his generosity. “Dr. Morrison helped hundreds of boys and girls to obtain an education through scholarships and the Fred. W. Morrison Scholars Program. He also helped establish the public television service in the state and the UNC Press for publications on Southern history, biography and literature.” Dr. Morrison was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree in 1964 by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Emma Neal McQueen Morrison was a native of Laurinburg. She attended Flora McDonald College and received business training at Miss Harbinger’s School in Raleigh. In 1929 she moved to Raleigh and later served as secretary to Governor O. Max Gardner. When Governor Gardner moved to Washington, DC in 1933 to practice law, she went with him as his Administrative Assistant and later met and married one of his partners, Fred Morrison. During her many years in Washington, DC, Mrs. Morrison made a name for herself. Among her accomplishments was serving as President of the Woman’s National Democratic Club, as Chairman of the Invitation Committee of the Inaugural Ball for John F. Kennedy and as a National Trustee of the Harry S. Truman Library. Mrs Morrison was also Producer Emeritus of the Lost Colony having served as Producer for the out-door drama for over 20 years. Among her many other accomplishments, she served as a Board of Visitors at St. Andrews College and was a recipient of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award from the college. In 1993, Mrs. Morrison returned to her home place in Scotland County where she died with Hospice care at the age of 100.

Dr. and Mrs. Morrison had one daughter, Myra Neal Morrison. Myra attended UNC Greensboro and UNC Chapel Hill. While at Chapel Hill she took a few classes in agriculture at NC State. After two years of law school and one year of graduate business school at UNC, Myra took over management of Morrison Farms in Rockwell, NC. For the past 40 years, Myra has earned accolades of her career in farming and raising prize Brahman and Simmental cattle on over 900 acres of land. She currently services on the American Brahman Breeders Association and on the board of the North Carolina Simmental Association. Myra is the proud mother of three daughters, Patricia, Shirley and Sandra along with seven grandchildren.

Morrison Manor will be a lasting legacy to the generosity of this remarkable family.

Links:

Emma Neal Morrison Obituary (Powles Station Funeral Home)