Jean Carolyn "Sissy" Long

1932 - 2023

Jean Carolyn Morris Long (Sissy) April 7, 1932, to December 24, 2023

Sissy Morris Long of Memphis died peacefully on Christmas Eve Sunday, December 24, surrounded by her loving family. Sissy was born on a farm Keo, Arkansas on April 7, 1932. She was the 4th child born to Mary Martha Murchison Morris and William Nathan Morris. She is preceded in death by her husband of 64 years William E Long, sister Martha Ann Morris, and her brothers William Nathan Morris Jr and Robert Waring Morris.

Sissy started school in Keo in a 1 room schoolhouse. In 1947, when Sissy was in 9th Grade, her parents sent her to boarding school at Ward Belmont in Nashville, TN. After graduating from Ward Belmont in 1950 she attended Sweetbriar College where she was in the choir and majored in English and graduated in 1954. Sissy went to New York City in 1955 where she worked with Economist and Author Eliot Janeway. Sissy moved to Texas in 1956 where she studied special education at the University of Texas and taught at the State School for the Blind in Austin. She moved to Memphis in 1958 to teach English to 5th graders at Kingswood. That same year, she met the love of her life, Bill Long. They met on a blind date and married in July of 1959. After she married, Sissy went back to school at the University of Memphis to get her Masters in English.

Sissy had many hobbies. She enjoyed playing tennis and played every week with her tennis group for many years. Sissy loved sewing and was an outstanding cook. Her children and grandchildren could not wait to eat Mama Sissy's chocolate eclairs, angel food cake with sticky white icing, smashed chicken, and beef wellington. Sissy loved music and enjoyed playing the piano which often included duets with her husband Bill on their two grand pianos.

Sissy was a talented and prolific writer and published 3 books. Finding Kate a story about her Grandmother that moved to Keo, Arkansas to become a school teacher in the 1800s. Miracles on the Bayou a story about her life growing up on the farm in Keo during the depression and By the Sea in Destin a group of articles she wrote for the Destin Log from 1992-2000 which focused mainly on her time spent on vacation at Silver Dunes in Destin, Florida. Sissy researched and wrote the historical cookbook on Memphis Gracious Goodness. She was constantly scribbling down her thoughts for articles, short stories or even books in a small notebook she carried in her purse.

She volunteered throughout her life in Memphis. She was a dedicated volunteer of Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and a longtime member of the Le Bonheur Club and Le Bonheur Travel Club. She was an avid supporter of the Memphis Symphony. She sung the with Symphony Pops as a Symphony Singers in the 1970s and was the Memphis Symphony League President in 1983. Sissy was a member of the Memphis Chapter of the Colonial Dames and the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Sissy was a member of Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis for over 60 years. At Idlewild she served as a Deacon, Abigail Church Circle Leader, Sunday School Teacher, Chairman of new members, and a member of the choir.

Sissy devoted her life to her husband and her family who survive her-William Jr (Suzanne), Bentley (Catherine), Mary (David Merritt, 9 grandchildren Rebecca Long, Andrew Long, Michael Long, Alexander Long, Elizabeth Long, Griffin Long, Christopher (Rachel) Merritt Stephen (Jordan) Merritt, Katherine (Griffen) Allen and 1 great grandchild Henry Merritt.

The family would like to acknowledge the love and support of her caregivers-Alisa, Martha, Patricia, Ernestine, and Angela while living in Memphis, and Constance, Euleen, Desby, and Lisa during the last 2 years of her life in Atlanta.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Idlewild Presbyterian Church, The Memphis Symphony Orchestra, or Le Bonheur Children's Hospital.

A Funeral Service will be at Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis Tennessee on Saturday, January 6 at 11:00 AM with a reception following.