Rev. Luther H. Morphis

Rev. Luther H. Morphis of Winston-Salem passed away on April 15, 2010 after a valiant 9 year struggle with Alzheimer's disease. Mr. Morphis was born on October 24, 1921 in Davidson County to the late John W. Morphis and Miranda Bean Morphis. He was preceded in death by his siblings J. W. Morphis, Hoyle Morphis, Carrie Byerly, Maxine Woodham and Thama Morphis. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Mary Frances Page Morphis. Also surviving are his children Ellen Morphis Citarella and husband Steve of Charlotte, Kenny Morphis and wife Beth of Winston-Salem, and grandchildren Jon Morphis, Page Morphis and Joe Citarella, who were a joy to him. Surviving siblings are Grady Morphis of Paris TX, twin brother Walter Morphis of Statesville, Franklin Morphis of Mooresville, Mary Kindley of Linwood, and Joe Morphis of Lexington. Numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews for whom he cared deeply also survive him. Rev. Morphis grew up in the Reeds Community and graduated from Reeds High School. After attending Mars Hill College where he played baseball, he served in the Army during WWII. After returning from the service, he attended Wake Forest where he was recognized in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, serving as president of the student legislature, president of his senior class, and vice-president of the State Baptist Student Union, graduating in 1948. He then answered the call into fulltime Christian ministry and served as pastor of Jordan Baptist Church after being ordained as a minister. He continued his education by attending Southern Baptist Seminary in Lewisville, Kentucky where he received his Masters Degree in Divinity. He was professor of Bible Studies at Missouri Baptist College, then pastor of Burgaw Baptist Church in Burgaw, N.C. He married his sweet and supportive wife, Mary Frances Page of Wilmington, whom he met at Southern Baptist Seminary. Rev. Morphis then became pastor of Haymore Memorial Baptist church in Mt. Airy, N.C. Luther and Mary Frances accepted the call to serve as Foreign Missionaries with the Southern Baptist Convention in 1963. Over the next 25 years they served churches in Augsburg and Berlin Germany, where he was Treasurer of the European Baptist Convention. During this assignment the family was privileged to have traveled extensively in Europe, an experience which will be a treasured memory for all. After their assignment in Berlin they served congregations in Nurnberg, Augsburg, and Karlsruhe, Germany and Vienna, Austria. From Europe they went to Nigeria to teach at Owerri Baptist College, where Luther and Mary Frances both taught a range of classes. Their next assignment with the International Service Corps was in Tokyo, Japan, serving as pastor of the Kanto Plains Baptist Church. Their final overseas assignment was in Augsburg, Germany, before returning to the U.S. After retirement he served as senior visitation Minister at Northwest Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, spending free time visiting relatives and acquaintances in the United States and enjoying grandchildren. The family would like to express their gratefulness for the loving care provided Rev. Morphis by the Staff of Wake Forest Family Physicians, Dr. Chip Celestino, The Brookridge Retirement Home Staff, Right at Home Agency, and Hospice of Forsyth County. Visitation will be at Hayworth Miller Funeral Home, Silas Creek Parkway from 6 to 8 P.M. on April 18. Burial and graveside committal will be at the Reeds Baptist Church Cemetery at 9:30 A.M. on April 19. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:30 A.M. on April 19 at Northwest Baptist Church with Dr. Ray Benfield and Rev. Brandon Hudson officiating. In lieu of flowers please consider contributions to Northwest Baptist Church (407 Petree Rd., WS 27106) or Hospice of Forsyth County.

Memorials:
Northwest Baptist Church (407 Petree Rd., WS 27106) or Hospice of Forsyth County.

Cemetery:
Reeds Baptist Church Cemetery

Visitation:
06:00pm - 08:00pm on April 18, 2010 at Silas Creek Chapel

Service:
Service at 01:30pm on April 19, 2010 at Northwest Baptist Church