Name: Visitation for Benjamin Hume Morris II
Start: 2018-03-29T20:00:00.000Z
End: 2018-03-29T23:00:00.000Z
Location: Pearson Funeral Home

Benjamin Hume Morris II

Louisville - "Hume" 72, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 27, 2018. He was born in Louisville on December 31, 1945 to the late Benjamin Hume Morris and Lacy Abell Morris.

Hume is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Betty Williams Morris, his sister Lacy Matzner (John), son Benjamin Hume Morris III (Ben) and his fiancé Carey Wilcox, his daughter Mary Creighton Hopmann (Steven), and his son Hunter Williams Morris. He is also survived by four adoring grandchildren Blake, Caroline, Mary Claire and Will.

A graduate of Waggener High School, Hume was proud to be inducted into the WHS Hall of Fame earlier this year. He attended Centre College and was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He graduated from the University of Louisville in 1968 and received his Juris Doctor degree in 1971 from the University of Louisville School of Law, where he was President of Omicron Delta Kappa and received the "Outstanding Graduating Senior" award for the 1971 class.

He practiced law in Miami Florida, as well as Louisville where he was a successful attorney, proud to represent those less fortunate than himself. Hume was active in the community and in the national fraternity of Beta Theta Pi, serving as General Secretary, and President. He received the highest honor from Beta, as the recipient of the Oxford Cup in 2000. He was a gifted speaker and a tireless advocate for American College Fraternities, speaking at over 100 university campuses and mentoring countless young men. He left his legacy to his Beta brothers by authoring his successful book, Brothers in Blood, a tribute to young fraternity heroes in the Civil War.

Hume's strong faith in God was evident throughout his life and he was very active with the Communicant class at Anchorage Presbyterian Church. Hume was life-long student of history with an unending fascination of military conflicts and the American Civil War. A true seeker of knowledge, he had a passion for reading and a library and miniature soldier collection that consumed most of his home. Hume was a devout family man who adored his children and grandchildren, making interactions with them memorable through family vacations, mindful treasure hunts, and regaling the family with stories of his days as a scuba diver and master captain aboard The Halcyon. Hume was a true renaissance man, a wordsmith with a brilliant mind, who will be missed by all who knew him.

Funeral Friday, March 30, 10:00 am - Anchorage Presbyterian Church 11403 Park Road Anchorage, KY. with burial to follow at Cave Hill Cemetery. Visitation Thursday, March 29, 4-7 pm at Pearson's, 149 Breckenridge Lane.

In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to Hosparus of Louisville or Anchorage Presbyterian Church

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Courier-Journal on Mar. 28, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Benjamin Morris

Sponsored by The Courier-Journal.

16 Entries

Matthew Tsien

April 18, 2024

Hume was a special friend as District Chief, General Secretary, and President of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.

I was an undergraduate whèn we met in 1976, Class of 1980, University of Louisville.

We corresponded throughout those years and I was always happy to see him at all of our Beta Alumni Anniversary Dinners.

Hume was speaking at the National Convention in 1993 and devoted several minutes of praise for me.

I was stunned and humbled.

It was painful to hear that he passed. Had hoped to see him one more time.

I'm sure his spiritual ascent is as certain as he was solid.

William Raizor

March 23, 2019

We of Delta Pi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi will never be able to give sufficient thanks for the gift of brotherhood that you gave us.

June 5, 2018

Dear Hume,

I was so very sorry to hear of your passing. I had hoped I would get to see you one more time but, apparently, that was not to be. I would like to have told you what a good friend you were---my first and very best friend when I came to Miami. I would like to have told you how much I valued our brief time together. I wish we had been able, one more time, to remember all the good times we had on the high seas---plundering and pillaging the reefs looking for hogfish and lobsters; to hear you tell one more time about the Rose K; to recall fine dining on a budget in Miami; to remember diving off the old Boston Whaler; to revisit the time you came to Miami and missed your flight back to Louisville----twice!!!

My memory for those things is fading and could have used a boost.

Your once and forever Miami friend

Judi Nigh

April 1, 2018

We have lost a true gentleman of great worth. My sympathies and blessings to his family and all those he loved, Judith Johnson Nigh

William Raizor

March 30, 2018

Deepest sympathies!!!

March 30, 2018

Hume is a true Beta brother and brother in Christ. Centre memories came rushing back this morning.
- kai -
Dennis J. McNulty
Centre '69
Louisville, KY

Dale Seebold

March 29, 2018

Dale and I were so sorry to hear about Hume. Unfortunately we are out of town but please know you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Margy and Dale Seebold

Rebecca Monks

March 28, 2018

I am deeply sadden to learn of the loss of such a kind, caring, compassionate & honorable man. I had the pleasure of working for Hume before his retirement. He was one of the best people you could ever hope to know. I have many fond memories from our time in what we called an "unconventional law office" and the many laughs we shared as well as our conversations & mutual love of animals. I was honored to call him my friend & I send my love, prayers & condolences to Betty, Ben, Hunter & the rest of his beautiful family. May Hume perfect his golf game among the Angels.

Bil Boyd

March 28, 2018

I never met Brother Morris, but I was initiated into Beta Theta Pi at Central Michigan University in 1986. His guidance as our leader in the fraternity was held close by every founding member of our chapter and as geeks of the lore of our fraternity, his example was a beacon of the lofty principles we all hold dear. I don't write this to pat Betas on the back, but to let his children and grandchildren know that your dad and granddad created a life that was exponentially significant. His example is held dear by every brother of the Epsilon Gamma chapter of Beta Theta Pi. Thank you, Brother Morris. We're forever in your debt. Bil Boyd, Central Michigan, 1990.Forever honored memory.

March 28, 2018

I will surely miss Hume. What a gentle person. We had a lot of laughs in our high school thespian adventures. What a wonderful sense of humor. I feel blessed to have known him for so many years. My prayers are for your family. Becky Calvert

James "Elmo" Elmore

March 28, 2018

Words cannot describe the impact that B Hume had on me, the chapter here at Louisville and for the entire Beta Theta Pi organization. B Hume Morris was a living example of our core principals and values. I remember the first time I met brother Morris and how it signified that I had joined an organization with bonds that will last a lifetime long after my college days were over.

I don't believe that I have seen him since running into him and Hunter at the PGA Championships at Valhalla but I will never forget that day. We got to catch up on life for over an hour, talk about his book and he even challenged me to become a District Chief.

Thank you for all of the bridges that you built in my life and the countless others.

Yours in _kai_ , Jay "Elmo" Elmore - District Chief 36

Randal Master

March 28, 2018

Hume was a great fraternal brother and mentor of Beta Theta Pi and he was always on call to guide our young men in the honorable and noble pursuits of our Values as Men of Principle! As an Iota Beta at Hanover College we called on him many times to speak at our Initiation ceremonies, and nobody gave a Beta 101 pep talk like Hume! God Bless Him and his Family! Well done Good & Faithful Servent! Yours in ___kai___, Randy Master

Rick & Marilyn Anderson

March 28, 2018

Condolences to Betty and the whole family on Hume's passing. He was a gentleman in the old-fashioned, best sense of the word, a wonderful family man, devout Christian, erudite lover of ideas and books, extraordinary lawyer, historian and author. I will particularly miss our engaging discussions on history, culture and a wide range of other subjects. God bless Hume and God Bless his family.

Rick & Marilyn Anderson

Rick & Marilyn Anderson

March 28, 2018

Our condolences to Betty and the entire family on Hume's passing. He was a wonderful family man, devout Christian, erudite lover of ideas and books, historian and author.....real gentleman in the oldest, best sense of the term. I will especially miss our enlightening discussions about history, culture and other subjects. God bless Hume and God Bless his family as it deals with his passing.

Rick & Marilyn Anderson

Rick & Marilyn Anderson

March 28, 2018

Our condolences to Betty and all of the family. Hume was a wonderful man, an extraordinary lawyer, intelligent and erudite, a lover of books, an historian and author, and devout Christian and wonderful family man...a real gentleman. I will especially miss our discussions on history, culture, great books, and a wide range of other things. God bless him and his family as they deal with his loss.

Rick & Marilyn Anderson

Barbara Strategier Bohn

March 28, 2018

Sending prayers and hugs to Humes family; he was so loved and respected. My heart is with the Morris Family.

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