Lanie Morris

Tupelo - Lanie Ruth Davis Morris, 78, died Sunday, May 9, 2010, at The North Mississippi Medical Center after a brief illness. A native of Bethany, she was born July 13, 1931, to Alvis Mitchell and Lola Mae Melson Davis. She was a certified Eiquette Consultant and retired Director of Special Services of Tupelo Public School District, a public speaker, and a published writer and poet. She earned a Bachelors and Masters degress from the University of Mississippi. She was an educator and administrator for more than 33 years. She taught in several states, Germany, and in the Canal Zone during her husband's military career. She received her Etiquette Cunsultant Certification from the Etiquette Institute in St. Louis, Mo. In 1977, she was selected Teacher of the Year for the Tupelo Public Schools. In 1982, she was selected Woman of the Year by the Tupelo Business and Professional Women's Club. In the early 1970's she was awarded a patent from the U.S. Patent Office. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and Delta Kappa Gamma, and a charter member of Tupelo Toastmasters. In 1989, she earned the level of Distinguished Toastmaster. In 1984, she won State Humorous Speech Contest in Mississippi and in 1994, she placed second at the Toastmaster's International Humorous Speaker's Contest for Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas. In February of 1952, she married Charles D. Morris. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Andy Ray and Rev. B.F. Lee officiating. Entombment will be in Lee Memorial Park Mausoleum. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include her daughter, Pam Morris Hankins of Tupelo; her granddaughter, Heather Hankins Clark (Ted) of Nashville; three great-grandchildren, Jackson, Katie, and Andy Clark, all of Nashville; one sister, Rachel Farris of New Albany.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Grace Lominick and Helen Turner; three brothers, Walter Davis, Tom Davis, and Ray Davis.

Pallbearers will be her nephews, Ray Farris, Ricky Farris, Bob Farris, James Lominick, and Shane Bates.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.