October 1, 1947 – March 8, 2023
Service
Friday, March 17, 2023
Lie In State: 10:00 A.M.
Family Visitation: 11:00 A.M.
Funeral Service: 12:00 Noon
Held at
Nelson & Sons Chapel Murfreesboro
448 East Burton Street
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
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Interment
Evergreen Cemetery
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
In the ever-changing circumstances of life, there is a faithful, never-changing God in control.
James Lytle Morton was the youngest child of four children, and the only son born to James Marimant and Josephine Lytle Morton, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on October 1, 1947. His three sisters, Gracie, Ella and Bernice called him “Brother” and everybody, relatives and friends alike knew him as Brother.
He left this earthly life at the age of seventy-five on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Alive Hospice in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
He was baptized at Cherry Grove Missionary Baptist Church at an early age.
James was educated in the Murfreesboro Public School System and graduated from Holloway High School in 1965. He was a friendly, outgoing person who was very punctual and organized. James liked for everything to be in its place and whatever he did, he did very well. Brother was active in high school. He served as the class Sergeant-at-Arms, and played on the football team as a Running Back.
After graduating from high school, Brother attended Tennessee State University before being drafted into the United Stated Army during the Vietnam War. As the only son in the family, he didn’t have to go to the battlefield. He was stationed in Germany and worked in the Army Post Office. He was honorably discharged as a SP4.
Upon his discharge from the Army, Brother attended South Western Community College. He worked at various jobs including the VA and Havertys Furniture Store. He retired from Havertys after fifteen years of service.
Brother loved his family and was very helpful to them. Working with the Tennessee Walking Horse Show with his uncles, Phil and Sam Witherspoon, was one of Brother’s passions in life. Traveling with his uncles to horse shows and preparing horses for the “Celebration” in Shelbyville, Tennessee were major highlights. He also contributed to several charitable organizations including St. Jude’s Research Hospital, Wounded Warriors and was a member of the American Legion.
Brother was preceded in death by his parents, James and Jospehine Morton; his sister, Gracie Marie Robinson, paternal and maternal grandparents, aunts, great aunts, uncles and great uncles.
Brother leaves to cherish his memory, a son, Terrance Blair of Murfreesboro, TN; two beloved grandsons, Oshea Blair and Queshawn Blair, both of Murfreesboro, TN; a great grandson, Easton Blair of Murfreesboro, TN; two sisters, Ella Louise (Thomas) Floyd of Asbury Park, NJ and Bernice Chatman of Shelbyville, TN; niece, Romanita Y. (KeSean) Partee of Piperton, TN; nephews, Dr. Daryl B. (Tracy) Floyd, Sr. of Claymont, DE, a devoted nephew and niece-in-law, Rick and Malette Stevens of Chesterfield, MO, Gene L. (DeShonna) Robinson II of Memphis, TN, Rodney L. (Shawnda) Floyd of Little Elm, TX; a dear aunt, Alberta Shelton of Nashville, TN; five great nieces, two great great nieces and four great nephews; dear cousins, Brenda North, Regena Davis, Jonathan North, Sylvia Brown, Jerry Chaney, Lula King and family, Judy Batten, the Davis and Hughes families and a host of other cousins and friends; devoted friends, Dallas Davis, Fred McHenry, Henry Knox, Mary Ann Smith, Ida B. Frazier and the entire class of 1965.
Obituaries 