Morris Friedman

1951 - 2024

Morris Friedman was born in Hazlehurst, Georgia. When he was very small his family moved to Brunswick, where he was raised and educated, and it became his real home. After graduating from Glynn Academy in 1969, Morris enlisted in the United States Army. He served two tours in Viet Nam and was wounded by shrapnel, which resulted in the loss of muscle mass in his right leg. The doctors told him he would always walk with a limp and would never be able to run again. His response was, "Just watch me!" Morris never limped, and he also ran in the 1984 Honolulu Marathon, finishing in 5:14. He retired in 1990 after serving over 20 years in the US Army. When Operation Desert Shield began in August of that year he tried to reenlist, but due to a paperwork snafu he was unable to do so. Morris again tried to reenlist after 9/11, but because of the plethora of other veterans attempting to do the same thing, he was again unsuccessful. His goal was always to serve his country when it needed him. While on active duty he earned the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.

After his retirement from the Army Morris decided to open a business which was initially called "PJ's Check Casher", named for his two sons, Paul and Jeremy. He became known in the neighborhood as "Mr. PJ", and when his wife, Linda, began to help him, she became known as "Mrs. PJ". Morris decided to begin offering pack and ship service as well as bulk mail delivery service, and the business morphed into Abercorn Mailing Services. He was very proud of such stellar clients as the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Savannah Symphony.

Morris closed the business in 2005 and found his "dream job" at the Savannah Golf Club. Being an avid golfer he thoroughly enjoyed setting up the course every day. The members knew to stay on his good side or they would find the pins in very difficult positions, such as behind a tree. After eight years the winters became too cold and the summers too hot, so Morris retired in 2013.

Morris' driving passion in recent years has been the Glynn Academy Class of '69 Memorial Scholarship Fund. He originated the idea for this fund and chaired the Fund Committee from its inception until his death. This fund was set up to provide college scholarships to deserving students who do not qualify for the Hope Scholarship.

Morris is a past board member of the Jewish Educational Alliance and a past vice president of Congregation Agudath Achim, where he has been a member for a long number of years.

Morris was predeceased by his parents, Pauline Kaplan Friedman and Hyman Friedman of Brunswick, Georgia.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Linda Coleman Friedman; two sons, Jeremy Friedman of Savannah and Paul Friedman (Dana) of Greenville, South Carolina; two granddaughters, Riley and Reagan Friedman of Greenville; a sister, Eunice Bernstein (Stephen) of Savannah; a nephew, Joshua Bernstein (Sara) of Atlanta; and a niece, Steffanie Sapp (Carl) of Savannah.

The family will sit Shiva at 206 Lee Blvd. in Habersham Woods from 3 to 7 PM Monday – Wednesday.

Donations may be made in Morris's memory to Chabad of Savannah, 2424 Drayton Street, Savannah, GA 31401 or Glynn Academy Class of 1969 Scholarship Fund, Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation, Inc., 777 Gloucester Street, Suite 103, Brunswick, GA 31520.