Joanne "Jody" Taylor Morrison

Jody Taylor Morrison, nee Joanne Althea Wood, was born in Ravenna, Ohio in 1932. Her parents were Robert and Winnifred Wood. Jody died on August 20th in Johns Hopkins Hospital from complications from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She fought the disease valiantly since January. After graduating from Marjorie Webster Jr. College with an AA in Child Development receiving the departmental award, she transferred to the University of Maryland and graduated with a BS in Education. She taught at the University’s Campus Nursery School and supervised student teachers in the field while she earned a MS degree in Human Development. During the summers she was the director of the nursery and kindergarten unit at Beauvow School in Washington, D.C. Jody was extremely active in each community in which she lived. She volunteered in many groups. She was a director of the Kent County Humane Society in charge of education and enjoyed hosting Pet Talk on the radio. She was a member of the financial oversight committee of the Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company and the company’s women’s auxiliary. Other volunteer activities included the oncology section of the local hospital. She was a lay reader at Shrewsbury Church and aided at Camp Wright. She was a firm supporter of Episcopal Cursillo. She and her first husband, David, established and operated background music businesses in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Lanham, Maryland. Jody was active while living in Potomac at St. Francis Episcopal Church as President of ECW and three years as chairman of the Potomac House Tour. She taught Sunday school at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church while living in Annapolis. She was a care giver in Hospice for three years in Annapolis and earned a 100 hour badge as a hospital volunteer. When they sold their business they moved to Chestertown and bought radio station, WCTR. She ran WCTR in the years when David was busy as a director of Economic Development for Kent County and after he developed an incurable illness. Jody married Russ Morrison in 2001. She sold WCTR and her home on Tilden Lane shortly thereafter and moved to Rock Hall with Russ. She became the treasurer of Huntingfield Corporation. Jody and Russ have had a wonderful loving marriage for more than six years. They enjoyed bridge, reading and traveling. She is survived by Russ; a daughter, Deborah Patton and her husband, Wesley, and a son Robert Taylor. She had five grandchildren, Meagan, Lydia, Nathaniel, Brandi and Nikki. Her first great grandchild, a boy, was born a few days before her death. She saw pictures of the child before losing consciousness. In the end Jody decided that she had experienced enough pain from the treatments, which at best would have gained her a month or two. She made the decision to go off life support and was given morphine to make her comfortable. She died a peaceful death two days later surrounded by friends and family. She loved people, was a giver and had an extremely strong spiritual strength and faith. She will be missed by all who were privileged to know her. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, August 25, 2008 at 4PM at Shrewsbury Parish Episcopal Church in Kennedyville, Maryland. Interment will be in the churchyard cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to the Kent County Humane Society or to the Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company. Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home Chestertown, MD

Joanne "Jody" Taylor Morrison

March 18, 1932 - August 20, 2008