SUNBURY, NC – Elizabeth Ellen Edwards Morgan, 88, of 160 NC 32 North, Sunbury, passed away on Saturday, March 31, 2018, in her home.

Mrs. Morgan was a lifelong resident of Sunbury, born on September 27, 1929, and was the daughter of the late Chester Costen and Cathleen Estelle Muncy Edwards. She attended Greensboro College where she was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, then completed her undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Mrs. Morgan taught school in Perquimans County before she started her family. She then served as librarian and guidance counselor at Gates County High School for many years. All her life, Mrs. Morgan recognized the importance of education to prepare one for life ahead. She frequently reminded her family and students, “Your education can never be taken away from you, regardless of your other life circumstances.” She expected excellence of herself and those around her, challenging her students and children to always do their best. Concomitantly, she also savored each academic accomplishment of her students and family, taking pride in their scholastic achievements and encouraging them to seek opportunity to further themselves.

After her children were born, while continuing to work during the school year, she also attended graduate school for four summers and completed her Master’s in Library Science from East Carolina University in Greenville, believing in practicing what she preached. She remained a voracious reader in her later years, subscribing to three newspapers daily which she read cover to cover and numerous farm journals to support her ongoing stewardship of the family farming business.

She was a faithful member of Philadelphia United Methodist Church in Sunbury, where she taught Sunday School and sang alto in the choir for decades. Lesson preparation was a priority for her, and she sought many scholarly sources to write the lessons. Later in life, she prepared the lessons, and her family would teach on her behalf. Her church and community family included dear Sunbury friends June and David Wiggins and Ann and Bruce Milam, with whom she and her family spent many happy times.

Mrs. Morgan was passionate about all things UNC-related. She closely followed Tar Heel sports, particularly basketball and football. She and her husband had season tickets to these games. A definite highlight of fall and winter would be trips to Chapel Hill to attend these events with their beloved fellow Tar Heel graduates, Nick and Lila Sowell. Tar Heel victories were an added plus to these getaways to Blue Heaven to visit with their friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William Hunter Morgan, Sr., in August, 2007.

Surviving are her children, Mary Chester Morgan Wasko, MD, MSc, and her husband, Jonathan, of Pittsburgh, PA, William Hunter “Bill” Morgan, Jr., and his wife, Annalisa, of Camden, and George Edwards “Ed” Morgan, Sr., and his wife, Caroline “Kakki”, of Sunbury, as well as “adopted” daughter Susan C. Tatum of Arlington, VA. Also surviving are her sister, Cathleen Estelle Edwards Blanton, and her husband, Ed, of Glen Arm, MD; and a cousin who was raised with her as a brother, Thomas Edward Muncy, Sr., and his wife, Libby, of Asheville. She leaves seven grandchildren, William Hunter Morgan, III, Joshua Morgan Wasko, George Edwards Morgan, Jr., Parker Murphy Morgan, Harrison Sadler Morgan, Annaleigh Grace Morgan, and Caroline Elizabeth Morgan, as well as many other members of the extended family.

Mrs. Morgan and her family were blessed with the domestic help and friendship of Elsie Horton Lassiter for more than 50 years, until Elsie’s passing in 2012. Since her first stroke in November, her devoted caregiver team, providing compassionate love and support, consisted of Jackie Lassiter, Carolyn Eason, Betty Lassiter, and Nesha Lassiter. The family will be forever grateful for their tireless efforts and commitment to Mrs. Morgan’s comfort and well-being. Dr. Nick Terry provided expert medical care for 30+ years, and the family thanks him for always being there for her. Beth Ellen’s children express a special, heartfelt thanks to Ed’s wife Kakki for cheerfully providing meals, groceries, taxi service and all other means of support to Mom for the last ten years of her life in Sunbury, allowing her to remain in her home where she always wanted to be.

Following a private family burial, there will be a memorial service on Thursday, April 5 at 11:00 a.m. in Philadelphia United Methodist Church that will be conducted by her minister, the Rev. Steve Hall. Friends may join the family Wednesday evening from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Miller Funeral Home, 304 Main Street, Gatesville, other times at the residence, or at Ed and Kakki’s home, 249 NC 32 North, Sunbury, for lunch immediately following the service on Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Philadelphia U.M.C., P.O. Box 148, or to the Sunbury Volunteer Fire Dept., 270 NC 32 North, both in Sunbury, NC 27979, or the charity of one’s choice.

Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.