Mary Jane Morrison

Mary Jane Morrison, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend, mentor, and teacher, died at home in Fletcher, North Carolina, on Monday, July 6, after battling cancer. She was 75.

Born on March 5, 1951, in Lynchburg, Virginia, to Helen and Paul Morrison, Mary Jane was the third of six children. Her parents and five siblings taught her the value of family and loyalty – values that shaped how she lived and how she raised her four sons.

Mary Jane graduated from Holy Cross School, and while life took her to Louisville, Kentucky, and Asheville, North Carolina, she never lost her love of Lynchburg or her Lynchburg accent. She went on to graduate from Spaulding College with a degree in English and literature, spent a summer studying at Oxford in England, and earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Louisville.

Above all, Mary Jane was a teacher, at home and at school. She taught her children how to love fiercely, how to always show up for each other, and how to meet every challenge with determination and without complaint. She shared her love of Coke, sweet tea, grits, HGTV, and how to wear a pressed shirt and pearls – and wear it well.

Mary Jane found community and strength at Christ School, where for more than 35 years she devoted herself to teaching young men how to read literature, write properly, and live a life for others. She once described Christ School as always moving forward while maintaining a focus on traditions, which is also a good way to describe Mary Jane. At Christ School, she became the school’s first female Master Teacher, the first female Assistant Head of School, and the first woman to have the yearbook dedicated to her – three times.

She attempted to retire in 2019, but found too much joy in teaching to give it up completely, continuing to work with students in Christ School’s Writing Center. Mary Jane took advantage of her quasi-retirement to master her pound cake recipe and to travel the world to see her children and grandchildren, wherever they might be – Maryland, Ohio, Texas, Indiana, and Norway. No one was happier than her grandchildren to hear that their parents were leaving town and Nana and Pappy were coming to watch them. Whether playing Uno or Legos or discussing the latest Marvel movie, Nana knew exactly what brought joy to each grandchild.

Mary Jane was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Paul Morrison Jr. We will miss her laugh, her love, and her dimpled smile, but we are comforted by the peace she has found.

Mary Jane is survived by her husband of 26 years, Leigh Harris, who arrived with hot apple pie, shared his love of outdoor adventures with her and her four boys, and whose love and care sustained her through her last days. She leaves her four sons and two stepchildren, Theo (Kate), Patrick (Beth), Daniel (Bridgett) and Michael Helm; Brooke (Andrew) Raish and Tyler (Julie) Harris; grandchildren Thomas, Jack, Charlie, and Elizabeth Helm; Jimmy and Amelia Helm; Chloe Aschenbrener and Luke, Ben, and Cameron Helm; Marin, Beckett, Callum, and Posey Raish; Evelyn, Elisabeth, and Emma Harris; brothers Donnie and John (Betsy) Morrison; sisters Helen (Jim) Long and Julia Pruitt; Leigh’s sisters Donna Pope and Dale (David) Sparacino and brother Tim (Deana) Harris; and a host of adoring nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Our family would like to thank Nicole for the wonderful care she provided Mary Jane, and Four Seasons Hospice.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 8, in St. Joseph’s Chapel at Christ School. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Christ School at https://www.christschool.org/giving/give or by check to Christ School, 500 Christ School Road, Arden, NC, 28704.

Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family.