Numa Morris

Throughout her rich and rewarding life, Numa Morris was guided by an unwavering faith that was her protection, her comfort, and her joy. She was a fun-loving woman with a contagious zest for life and a love for others that never ran dry. Numa was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who found the joy in even the simplest of things, counting every moment she spent with her loved ones to be simply priceless. She was a woman who knew what it means to work hard, yet she also took the time to fully embrace each and every moment she was given. Numa will be deeply missed while her memory is forever cherished. The Roaring Twenties brought us some of the most vibrant days we have ever seen that were laced with innovation that was transforming the way we lived our daily lives. Radios connected us with the world around us while more affordable automobiles allowed us to travel to places we had never been before. The world of flight soared to new heights with Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh leading the way, and motion pictures became available in both color and sound. Amidst this time of great change there was much to celebrate in the lives of a bustling family from Magnolia, Arkansas, as they welcomed a healthy baby girl into the fold on January 20, 1925. Numa was the 12th of 14 children born to her parents, Paul and Octavia (Sargent) Burks, and she was raised in the family home alongside her older siblings, Ernest, Ella, Dollie, Sam, Roberta, Zettie Lee, Mossie Lee, Turner, SJ, Smith, and Glennie, and her younger siblings, Lizzie and Velma. New and exciting changes were on the horizon for Numa when she met the man of her dreams. His name was Genea Morris, and after getting to know one another they soon found themselves deeply in love. With a desire to establish a life together the sweethearts were married on October 28, 1948, in Camden, Arkansas. Numa and Genea were filled with unspeakable joy to welcome their son, Turner Ray, into their hearts and home. In the 1950s the family of three moved to Muskegon, Michigan, where Genea settled in to a job with Campbell Wyant & Cannon while Numa worked in the laundry department at Hackley Hospital. They found a church home at Greater Harvest Baptist Church. In 1959 they purchased what would be Numas lifelong home at 2325 Howden in Muskegon Heights. Shortly thereafter they transferred their membership to Christ Temple Apostolic Faith Church and she was baptized under the leadership of bishop William Burrel and filled with the Holy Ghost. Numas skills in the kitchen were fantastic and greatly appreciated by her husband and son with her egg custard, pies, and cakes being among her specialties. Summers were often filled with blueberry picking when they came in season. Over the years Numa enriched her journey in numerous ways. She was very involved at her church and was a prayer warrior who diligently prayed for her family and friends. Numa enjoyed dressing nice, especially for church, and her outfits often included a beautiful hat as she had quite a few. She looked forward to trips to Arkansas to visit family, and she and Genea loved fishing and hosting fish fries for family and friends. Numa always had a small garden in the back and loved both morning glories and gardenias. She also raised rabbits for a time. Numas favorite color was pink, and she loved visiting the beach, going for drives, attending church conventions, checking out the farmers market, and eating chicken wings. The things Numa enjoyed were only made better when shared with the ones she loved. In 1960 she was delighted with the birth of her first grandchild, Deborah, who was later followed by Cynthia, Turner Ray Jr., Tonya, and Craig. As often as she could Numa made the trip to Wisconsin to visit her son and his family. She was deeply saddened with Geneas death in 1979. Later in life Numa continued to delight in her family. In 2007 she moved to Wisconsin to live with her son. After his death in 2008 she moved back to Muskegon where she lived with her granddaughter, Deborah, for a short time before moving back into her home. In 2011 Numa moved to the Cove where she spent the remainder of her days. During those times she was cared for by her special nieces Romakey Lay and Willie B. Morris. A warm, energetic, and honest woman, Numa Morris was a blessing in the lives of those around her. She was never concerned about the things she had, rather, her focus was on being with the ones she loved as much as she could. With a life that spanned times of war and times of peace, times of plenty and times of want, Numa created a priceless collection of memories that will remain a lasting treasure for her loved ones to hold forever near to their hearts. Numa Morris died on Wednesday, January 1, 2014. Numas family includes her five grandchildren and daughter-in-law Josephine Morris. Services will be held on Tuesday, January 7, 2014, 11:00 a.m. and visitation one hour prior to the service at Christ Temple Apostolic Faith Church with Pastor Avery Burrel officiating. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or sign the online guestbook.