Cleora Maxine Morris, affectionately known as “Mac”, 89, of New Haven entered into eternal life on Tuesday, December 22, 2020. Maxine was born on November 31, 1931 as the second of five children to James W. and Nelontine D. Smith in Allensville Kentucky.
Maxine grew up in the peaceful county of Allensville, attending both Methodist and Baptist church but was baptized and held membership at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. As a child, she loved to cook and sew with her Mother and Grandmother (Laura and Addie) by her side. She was as well a perfectionist with hair styles, she later went on to refine her skills in Home Economics classes at Todd County Training School where she graduated.
After graduation Maxine moved to Pontiac Michigan, there she met and married Samuel Edwards. The two love birds moved to DC and then to New Haven after they both graduated from Michigan University. She joined Community Baptist Church in the ‘50s and served God and her church in many capacities: Sunday school Teacher, Missionary Board Member, Kitchen Committee Member but her joy was serving as a member of the Trustee Board for over fifty years. She served faithfully until her health declined.
Maxine later met and married Fred Morris and to this union one son was born, Frederic Douglas Morris, the Joy of her life.
Maxine was employed at Yale New Haven Hospital retiring in 1994 after 42 years of service. She then joined the grandparents support group in the New Haven School System. She was an avid bowler, loved watching Tennis (the Williams Sisters), a diehard New York Knicks fan and loved the Connecticut Huskies basketball team. She also loved cats and dogs.
Maxine definitely had the Smith trait, she treats everyone with such kindness by engage them in a long conversations. Every summer she looked forward to returning to Allensville for the 8th and visiting her family in Michigan. Every Christmas, she would cook a huge breakfast that includes any and everything you could name and invite all the family and everyone she would think of.
Maxine leaves to cherish her memories: son Frederic Douglas Morris of West Haven; grandson Frederic Douglas Morris Jr. (mother Francette Carson) of New Haven; Granddaughters Amaya Morris (mother Sonya Covington) and Ashley Warren all of New Haven; sister Pauline (Owen) Edwards of Pontiac, MI; sister/cousin, Margret Ann Roberts of Allensville, KY; brother-in-law Willie A. Holmes of West Haven; nieces, Stephanie Edwards of Pontiac, MI and Yolanda Holmes of New York, NY; nephews, Ray Smith, Ceasar (Gwen) Smith, LaVaunt (Phyllis) Smith all of Terre Haute, Ind. and Wendell O. (Marie) Holmes of Bowie, MD; God-daughter, Nina Fowler of Charlotte, NC; special friends: Jeffie Frazier, Dorothy Little and Ella Smith and a host of relatives and friends.
Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, James and Nelontine Smith; brother, James Douglas (Callie)Smith; sisters, Addie Laurine Holmes and Sarah Smith; two nieces, Anna Gail Cooper and Audrey Holmes; aunts, Johnella Andrews, Amy King and Bennie Morrow; God-son, Edward Morrow: ex-husband, Fred Morris; step-daughter, Jean C. Edwards.