Paul Atlas Morris, Sr.

Paul Atlas Morris Sr. joined his Heavenly Father on October 4, 2025. He was born on August 29, 1951, to the late Willie Joe and Youlanda Morris. Paul was a husband, father, and friend to many.

He grew up in Nashville, North Carolina, and graduated from Nash Central High School in 1969, where he played on the basketball team. He often talked about the year his team reached the state championship in 1968. Paul served in the United States Air Force as an Air Cargo Specialist from 1969 to 1973. He was discharged at Norton Air Force Based in San Bernardino, California. It is there that he continued to work in the area of inventory control for a distribution company as well as working as a Security Guard at the Rough & Ready Naval Station. After being called by God to return to his home state of North Carolina in 1985, he obeyed and returned to his hometown of Nashville, NC. Upon his return, Paul worked in his father’s grave excavation and tomb stone services business. Paul continued his work career as Order Control Specialist with Drake Elevator Company. Seeking a change of careers, he pursued a position as a Corrections Office with the North Carolina Department of Corrections until the decline of his health led to permanent disability.

Paul’s return home led to him finding love with an old classmate, Portia Morris, who had also returned home from the military service. Both were in the same first grade class and grew up in the town of Nashville, NC. They were married in 1986.

Paul was a devoted follower of Christ, sharing his love of God with many. He often talked about Christ’s redemption in his life and encouraged others to embrace the love Christ in their life. Most importantly, he encouraged his grandsons to be men of God, sharing with them a favorite movie of his called The Forge.

Paul enjoyed being around others offering thoughtful advice, wise cracking jokes, and sharing a hearty laugh during life’s funny moments. He was known for being kind and generous. Paul had many hobbies and interests. He liked playing music on his saxophone and keyboard, playing sports, fishing, doing puzzles, working with his hands and cooking food on the grill.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Joe “Bubba” Morris and Youlanda Richardson Morris, and his sister Carolyn Eley.

He is survived by his wife, Portia Ann Morris; his two sons, Paul Atlas Morris Jr. of Winston Salem, NC and Antonio Lamar Wells (Angela) of Tarboro, NC and two daughters, Cynthia Crook of Sacramento, CA and Constance Wells of Charlotte, NC. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Dominic Redmon, Cailyn Darrington, and James Darrington; his sisters, Mary Ann Morris of Nashville, NC, and Janice Baker of Rocky Mount, NC; his brothers, Willie D. Morris (Glessa) of Nashville, NC, and James Morris (Georgie) of Rocky Mount, NC; and several nieces, nephews; aunts, Rosalee Morris and Katie Morris; sisters and brothers-in-law, Geneva Freeman, Earl Pettiford, Wayne Pettiford, Hilda Wallace (Michael), Sharon McKoy (Eddie); Angela Dove of Port Wentworth, GA , and many other relatives, co-workers and friends.

A visitation will be held Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 1:00pm at Raymer-Kepner Chapel, 16901 Old Statesville Road, Huntersville, NC 28078. The funeral service will follow at 1:30pm.

In lieu of Flowers, you may send a donation in honor of Paul Atlas Morris, Sr to In Touch Ministries, P. O. Box 7900, Atlanta, GA 30357