Morris C. Bethea

FAYETTEVILLE - Morris Cafritz Bethea, of Fayetteville, died Saturday, March 27, 2010, in the N.C. State Veterans Nursing Home in Fayetteville. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at 10 a.m. in Paye Funeral Home & Memorial Chapel in Fayetteville. Burial will be held at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake. There will be a public viewing at the funeral home on Monday, April 5, 2010, from 2 to 7 p.m. Morris was born Jan. 26, 1928, in South Carolina, to Louise and Charles, the tenth and youngest of Charles' children. Following the death of his mother in 1932, he was raised by his grandmother in Washington. Morris had an active and impressive life. He joined the United States Air Force, where he rose to master sergeant, serving tours of duty in Alaska, Turkey, Thailand, England and Mexico. He gained a degree in business administration at Fayetteville State University and developed a second successful career with JC Penney in Cleveland and Atlanta, and as a respected businessman in his own right. He finally retired to Fayetteville to be close to his beloved family, in particular his sister, Elizabeth, for whom he held a lifelong devotion. He was an active citizen, being a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Association and the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People. He held a strong faith and was an active member of First Baptist Church. Even after he was less mobile, he maintained a close and loving relationship with his church and enjoyed listening to and participating in the Sunday services. He had an enduring passion for golf and the Atlanta Braves, and only the bravest of men or women would dare to interrupt him during a game! Morris was known for his generosity, his loyalty to his family and the strength, the sharpness and the sternness of his mind. This could be a challenge for the rest of us mortals at times, but we all knew that within Morris, we were being touched by a rare spirit - a man with integrity, a heart of gold and a man of his word. Morris is survived by his son and daughter, Haydn and Lindsey; his grandsons, Tai, Obi and Nio; his nephew, Bobby; his great-niece and great-nephew, Pat and Jacqui; his great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews, Martina, Michael, Monica, Andres and Stephanie; and his devoted extended family, Melba, Donna and Mark, Kim and Miles. He will be missed and loved by all.