Barbara Morris

Mrs. Barbara Linder Morris, age 72 of Cookeville, Tennessee died Friday evening August 15, 2014 at Life Care Center of Sparta in Sparta, TN. She was born October 26, 1941 in Walterboro, SC to the late Lowell Walter Linder and Annie Polk Linder. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Mrs. John (Betty) Carter and brother, Mr. Wesley Linder. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, R. Winston Morris (whom she married June 2, 1961 in Barnwell, South Carolina), two daughters Maria Morris Price and son-in-law Ronald Thomas Price of Lexington, KY, and Sheila Renee Morris of Crossville, TN; sister and brother-in-law Alberta and Harold Weeks of Denmark, SC; sister-in-law Mrs. Wesley Linder of Barnwell, SC; and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Morris was an English Teacher at Cookeville High School from 1975 until 1996. She was a 1959 graduate of Barnwell High School in Barnwell, SC and enjoyed a year serving as Miss Barnwell 1959. She was a graduate of Palmer Business College in Augusta, GA in 1960. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education Degree from Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, TN in 1975. She was a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She was the first teacher at Cookeville High School to be designated as a 21st Century Classroom Teacher in 1994 and one of the first five in the Putnam County School System to be so designated. Having taught four or five sections of English each semester for over twenty years at CHS, she enjoyed encountering former students everywhere she went in Cookeville. Known as a strict but caring teacher she expected the best from her students as well as herself. She enjoyed tennis, movies, going to the beach, and being with her family. It was a joy to be in her kind, giving, and lighthearted presence -- she was the heart and soul of her family. The family has chosen cremation with private services at a later date. No flowers or gifts please.