Jack Wayne Morgan

Jack Wayne Morgan, 79, passed away in Tallahassee, Florida on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 after an extended bout with dementia, which he never allowed to diminish his characteristic humor or good spirits. Jack was born in 1938 in Dolomite, Alabama, to Clarence Wiseman and Roberta Alexander Morgan, and remained a resident of Hueytown, Alabama until departing for college at the University of Alabama. There Jack went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1960 and Juris Doctor degree in 1962, while joining Kappa Sigma Fraternity and serving as Beta Chapter’s president. It was also at the university where he met his bride to be, Elaine Matthews, who he married on June 30, 1962, the same year he began his first of three years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force as a member of the judge advocate general corps. He and Elaine were stationed for a memorable and chilly tour at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Michigan, one of the Strategic Air Command bases active during the Cuban Missile Crisis and Cold War. Jack remained in the U.S. Air Force as a reservist, serving as a Senior Reserve Advisor and member of the Keesler Law Center in Mississippi. He retired in 1985 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

After leaving active duty Jack continued a successful career in law, serving in many different capacities on both the Mobile Bar and Alabama Bar associations. He began his career outside the Air Force as law clerk to Alabama Supreme Court Justice Robert Harwood in 1965, before becoming an associate at the firm of Holberg, Tully, and Hodnette the following year. He made partner in 1969, and proceeded to work as associate, then partner, for two other distinguished firms before entering his own practice in 1981. He remained in practice until 2012, when he retired to devote himself to the full-time care of his beloved wife, who had fallen ill. Jack was a devoted member of Springhill Baptist Church, and took great comfort in his faith. Among the many things for which he will be remembered, his love of the outdoors—hunting and fishing in particular—are at the top of the list. He also had a deep love for life along Fish River. Jack was preceded in death by his wife Elaine and his siblings Clarence, Jr. and Melvyn. He is survived by his son David Wayne Morgan (wife Nancy); brother Donald (wife Doris); nieces and nephews; and two wonderful grandchildren. Jack will be laid to rest with military honors in the Tallahassee National Cemetery on Monday, November 27, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. (5015 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, FL 32311). A memorial celebration of the lives of Jack and Elaine will be hosted in Mobile in the months ahead, at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation (1-800-259-4636; 110 East 42nd Street, 16th Floor New York, NY 10017; or https://www.alzinfo.org/), Big Bend Hospice of Tallahassee (1-800-772-5862; 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308; or https://www.bigbendhospice.org/), or Springhill Baptist Church (251-342-5320; 2 S. McGregor Ave. Mobile, AL 36608; or http://www.shbc.cc/ ). Faith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements 850-539-4300 or www.faithfuneralhome.com .