Morris Arthur Hymes

On Wednesday, January 5th, 2022, God reached down and called Morris, from labor to reward. From earth’s sorrow to heaven’s joy, from time to eternity.

Morris, was born on October 6th, 1930, in Darlington, South Carolina. He was the third of four boys: Leander, Carl, Morris, and Herman. They were the offspring of his parents, the late Benoitt Hymes and Rosa Lee Dubose. Benoitt and Rosa Lee were farmers in Darlington, S.C., before moving to Washington, D.C. in 1939, where Morris attended elementary and went on to graduate from Armstrong High School. He proceeded to attended Howard University where he received a B.A in History, in 1955. Upon graduating, he was commissioned as an Officer into the U.S. Army where he served until 1967. While in the military, he served duty in Korea; was stationed at Ft. Benning, GA; Butzbach, Germany; Ft. Hamilton, NY; and Washington, D.C. During his military service, in 1965, he enrolled in Columbia University graduating in 1967 with a Master’s in History. He was discharged from the Army in 1967.

After the military, Morris began a civilian career at the National Security Agency. In 1970, he took a one-year assignment in Saigon, Vietnam. He was a wonderful manager at the agency; mentoring and motivating others to excel. Morris wanted people to feel free to come to him with any problems, no matter how small or apparently insignificant. This was true of Morris outside of work as well. In April of 1992, Morris retired from the agency.

Morris’ last work experience was in the field of dentistry.  Beginning in 1992, he proudly served as office manager for his daughter’s, Dr. Pamela Hymes, DDS, dental practice in Ft. Washington, M.D. Morris served in this capacity until 2016 when he took ill.

A consummate leader, Morris led men in the Army; Students at Pratt Institute of Technology; Staff at the National Security Agency; his community as President Fox Ridge Civic Association; his Church as President/Vice President of the congregation; and, his family serving as a role model.

Morris met his first, and only, life-long love, Theresa M. Sewell, in December 1952. The two married at Galbraith A.M.E. Zion church in January 1955.  The Lord blessed Morris and Theresa with four children Pamela, Morris Jr., Michael, and Teresa. The family became members of Ascension Lutheran Church, in 1967, where he held many offices and participated in many organizations. Morris accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord at an early age. The remainder of his life was an outgrowth and fruit of that Divine encounter.

Morris developed a keen interest in his family history. In 1989, for the first time in fifty years, Morris returned to Darlington S.C. and began researching his family’s roots. His findings were submitted to the Darlington Historical Society and his efforts continue to this day by being captured and updated, online, at ancestry.com.

Morris was always teaching. He provided guidance on life, marriage and God. Even in his later years, after he took ill, he provided the family insight into how to live with a person with dementia. Morris was mentioned in a Business Wire news article in 2016 that showed the benefits of being able to track loved ones if they went missing.

Morris is proceeded in death by his parents and brothers Leander, Carl Sr. and Herman.

He is survived by his loving wife Theresa, his daughter Pamela and her husband Jerome, son Morris Jr. and wife Roblyn, son Michael, and daughter Teresa and her husband Tonny. His grandchildren; Jennifer, Whitney, Melanie, Michael, Jessica, and Jaeda. He is also survived by his sister-in-laws Elaine Hymes of Washington, D.C. and Ruby Hymes of Lamar, S.C. Morris is also survived by many nephews and nieces, and friends.

Morris touched the lives of many people and will be greatly missed. He was a true model for a God-fearing, upstanding, decent individual.