John H. Morant

COLUMBIA - Bishop John H. Morant died Wednesday, September 17, 2008, in the Providence Hospital in Columbia, S.C. Born in Sumter County, he was one of thirteen children born to the late Rev. Octavis A. (“O.A.”) Morant and Rachel Ruth Praileau Morant. Bishop Morant was educated in the public schools of Sumter County and attended American University in Washington, D.C. He served his country in the U.S. Army and was employed in both mechnical and clerical positions at numerous military instillations, including service in the Korean War. He was later employed by the United States Postal Service where he rose through the ranks to the position of Supervisor and retired after fifty-one years of award-winning service. His ministerial journey included the establishment of numerous churches in diverse locations throughout South Carolina including: Mount Carmel Universal Methodist Church in Stuckey, Saint Paul U.M. Church in Johnsonville, Jerusalem U.M. Church and Bethel A.M.E. Church, both in Charleston, Liberty Hill Church in Summerton and his most recent pastorate was the Rock Outreach Healing Ministry in St. Stephens, S.C. His ministerial life was maintained while remaining a son of High Hills A.M.E. Church in Dalzell.

In addition to his parents, Bishop Morant was preceded in death by his siblings: Octavis A. Morant Jr., William Praileau, Leila Morant Spears, Ruth Morant, Nahaniel Morant, Mae Morant, Eddie Morant, Silas Morant, Edward Morant, Geneva Morant Ray and two who died in infancy.

Surviving are his “heartfelt wife,” Betty Cooper of Dalzell, a son Blake D. (Paulette) Morant of Winston Salem, N.C., and daughter, Tracey Morant (Jeffery) Adams of Birmingham, Ala., a special niece who was like a daughter, Clara Mackey of Newport News, Va., other nieces, nephews, cousins, colleagues and friends.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Sunday September 21, 2008, at High Hills AME Church with the pastor Rev. Thomas Habersham officiating. Interment will follow in the High Hills AME Church Cemetery. Bishop Morant will be placed in the church at 1:00 p.m for viewing until the hour of service. The family will receive friends this evening from 5:00 to 6:00 at the Palmer Memorial Chapel, 304 South Main St. and at other times, 14 Beard St. in Dalzell. Memorials in memory of Bishop Morant may be made to the American Heart Association, 520 Gervais St., Suite 300, Columbia, SC 29201. Those wishing to join the funeral procession should meet at the Morant residence, 14 Beard St., Dalzell, at 1:00 p.m. Sunday.

On-line memorials may be made to: palmermemorialchapel@sc.rr.com.

Palmer Memorial Chapel of Sumter is in charge of funeral arrangements.