Lillian Rees "L'Rees" Johnston Morris

Lillian Rees "L'Rees" Johnston Morris went peacefully Home on June 15, 2016. L'Rees was born November, 1923, to Keron Virginia Reese and James Thomas Johnston in Columbus, TX. As a child, L'Rees attended the Austin Conservatory of Music, where she studied and performed on the violin and piano. After graduating from Steven F. Austin High School, she attended Baylor University and the University of Texas, where she got a B.A. in Fine Arts, majoring in music. While at Baylor, L'Rees met a young ministerial student, Samuel Jasper Morris, Jr., whom she later married She served faithfully in her role as the wife of a Southern Baptist minister, working with children, teaching women's Bible studies, and playing both organ and piano, most lately in the Port Norfolk Baptist Church in Portsmouth, VA. Mrs. Morris was a member in and frequently served as an officer of the Music Study Club of Chesapeake and both the Virginia and the National Federations of Music Clubs. She also taught piano to many wonderful and caring students. She traveled and taught internationally as her husband preached. L'Rees was preceded in death by her husband, the Reverend S. J. Morris, Jr.; her parents; her brother and sister-in-law, Si Houston and Nell Jourdan Johnston of Austin, TX; and her sister, Mrs. Waldene Johnston Greene, also of Austin. She is survived by her niece, Mrs. Nell Johnston Martin of Austin, and her two great nieces, Dr. Lisa Yanase of Portland, OR and Mrs. Krista Berger of Concord, NC, and their families. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Port Norfolk Baptist Church, 401 Broad Street, Portsmouth, VA, 23707; to The Chesapeake Baptist Home, 955 Harpersville Road, Newport News, VA, 23601; or to one of the local music clubs. The family wishes to thank the staff of The Chesapeake Baptist Home for their care of L'Rees over the last few years. A graveside service will be held at Oakwood Cemetery in Austin at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 22, 2016.