Barbara Byrd Morris' Obituary
Barbara B. Morris, 91, of Gainesville, FL passed away Thursday, August 28, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Barbara was born in DeLand, FL on January 16, 1934, to Carlisle and Mary Register Byrd. She was the youngest of 2 siblings and the last survivor of her generation in the family. Barbara earned her Bachelor of Education and Master of Education degrees from the University of Florida and taught first grade for 30 years, with most of those years spent at Timucuan Elementary in Jacksonville FL. She was a woman of strong faith and a lifelong member of the Methodist Church at Trinity Methodist in Seville, FL, Wesconnett United Methodist in Jacksonville, FL, and St. James United Methodist in Palatka, FL where she served in leadership positions and in the United Methodist Women. After retiring, she and her husband moved to a home in East Palatka where they enjoyed boating and fishing in the St Johns River and its tributaries. They also worked on genealogy research, participated in the local genealogy society and even taught classes on how to document your family history.
Barbara is preceded in death by her husband Bobby B Morris, her parents, her brother Carlisle A Byrd Jr and his wife Lillian Davis Byrd, as well as her sister in law Peggy Morris Wells and brother in law Kline Wells, all of whom she considered close family.
Barbara is survived by her children Thomas M. Morris (Lisa Alsmeyer Morris) and Leslie Morris Polinkas (Jonathan P. Polinkas) and 4 grandchildren Bethany Polinkas Campbell (Taylor Campbell), Evan Morris (Sarah Cronin Morris) Andrew Morris (Rebekah Minter Morris) and Jillian Morris. Barbara was a devoted mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother and supported her family in all of their endeavors. She had a kind, grateful, and accepting spirit and was a friend to all who met her. She will be greatly missed.
A Memorial Service to honor Barbara’s life will be held on November 1, 2025 at 2:00 pm, in the chapel at Trinity United Methodist Church, 4000 NW 53rd Ave., Gainesville, FL with Rev. Steve Price officiating. A reception will follow in the Atrium at Trinity. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in her memory to Residing Hope, formerly known as United Methodist Children’s Home at https://residinghope.org/donate/.
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