Arts patron and philanthropist Marjorie Abbey Morrison died January 25, 2016. Born November 8, 1916 in the Mississippi Delta town of Webb, she was valedictorian of her high school class (All Saints College in Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1933), and then earned a B.A. degree from Mary Baldwin College, in Staunton, Virginia (1937). She did post-graduate study at the New York School of Interior Design. Marjorie married a South Louisiana lawyer, James Hobson Morrison on February 14, 1940. They had two sons James Hobson Morrison, Jr. (Lisa) and Benjamin Abbey Morrison.
She was predeceased by her parents Thomas Benton Abbey and Julia Cochran Abbey, a brother Benton, a sister, Jenny, and her husband of sixty years, former United States Congressman James H. “Jimmy” Morrison. She is survived by her sons, Hobby and Benjy, two grandsons, James Scott Morrison and Richmond Blair Morrison, as well as three nephews Edward Pierce, Raymond Pierce, and Harry Lee.
In addition to her family she loved the arts. A regular patron of the Louisiana Philharmonic, the New Orleans Ballet, and the New Orleans Opera, she supported the cultural offerings of Hammond’s Columbia Theatre. Marjorie frequented the galleries on Royal and Julia Streets. Her private collection included works by a number of Louisiana artists including George Dureau, Elmore Morgan, Joey Bonhage, Michael Ledet, Barbara Tardo, Gail Hood, Rhea Geary, George Dunbar and others. She devoted much of her time promoting arts education in Louisiana’s schools. When the State eliminated funding for art education In 1967, Marjorie, while vice president of the Louisiana Council for Music and the performing Arts, created The Arts Slide Lending Library in cooperation with the State Department of Education to insure that all Louisiana children could receive a weekly art lesson.
She was a member of the executive board of the Louisiana State Arts Council and a founder and board member of the Hammond Arts Council now the Hammond Regional Arts Center. She was a charter member of the Alliance for Arts in Education, served on the advisory board of the New Orleans Museum of Art, and was a member of the Louisiana Arts Educator Association.
Her arts advocacy earned plaudits from many sources. Marjorie was named a Life Fellow, Royal Society of Arts, London, England. She was awarded a medal of appreciation from the Louisiana Council for Music and the Performing Arts, an honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree from Southeastern Louisiana University, the Governor’s Art Patron of the Year Award, a Medal of Appreciation from Jeunesse d’Orleans in 1997 among others. In 2010 Louisiana Public Broadcasting honored her as A Louisiana Legend.
In Hammond Mrs. Morrison served on a number of volunteer boards, supported Southeastern Louisiana University’s Visual and Performing Arts Department and the University Library. Never just a nominal board member she was an active participant in every project and program. She may well have been the most active patron of the Hammond Branch of the Tangipahoa Parish Library System. A revered personage in the Hammond Community, most people knew Mrs. Morrison. In 1983 she was named Hammond’s Woman of the Year, by the Hammond Junior Auxiliary. In 1986 she reigned as the first Queen of the Krewe of Omega. She served on the executive board of the Hammond Centennial Commission. Southeastern Louisiana University named her a Golden Ambassador. She was Hammond’s “Grand Dame.”
As much as she loved the City of Hammond she was an inveterate world traveler. She read extensively about the places she planned to visit. One companion on a trip to Egypt noted that Marjorie rode a camel in a silk suit with high heels! At age 86 she made a solo trip to Greece and Turkey.
At her home Shadowcreek in suburban Hammond she lived in the midst of color. Her extensive azalea and camellia gardens bloomed over a period of months each year. She enjoyed her art collection and shared it with guests at lovely small dinner parties. She particularly loved to prepare hors d’oeuvres to be accompanied with well- chilled champagne. Frequently, she supplied her culinary specialties for gallery openings, lectures and post-concert receptions. A gourmet supper club brought her great pleasure. A few years ago she published a cookbook for family and friends.
Her son Hobby recalled, “She was a glass half full (or mostly full) kind of person. An optimist. She loved flowers, bright colors, classical music and young people. Of course, just about everyone was 'young' to her.” The bumper sticker on her car read 'Proud to be a Democrat.'"
The family will receive guests at the Grace Memorial Episcopal Church Parish Hall before services on Saturday, January 30, 2016 beginning at 9:30 AM. The funeral will begin at 11 AM in the Church.
She was predeceased by her parents Thomas Benton Abbey and Julia Cochran Abbey, a brother Benton, a sister, Jenny, and her husband of sixty years, former United States Congressman James H. “Jimmy” Morrison. She is survived by her sons, Hobby and Benjy, two grandsons, James Scott Morrison and Richmond Blair Morrison, as well as three nephews Edward Pierce, Raymond Pierce, and Harry Lee.
In addition to her family she loved the arts. A regular patron of the Louisiana Philharmonic, the New Orleans Ballet, and the New Orleans Opera, she supported the cultural offerings of Hammond’s Columbia Theatre. Marjorie frequented the galleries on Royal and Julia Streets. Her private collection included works by a number of Louisiana artists including George Dureau, Elmore Morgan, Joey Bonhage, Michael Ledet, Barbara Tardo, Gail Hood, Rhea Geary, George Dunbar and others. She devoted much of her time promoting arts education in Louisiana’s schools. When the State eliminated funding for art education In 1967, Marjorie, while vice president of the Louisiana Council for Music and the performing Arts, created The Arts Slide Lending Library in cooperation with the State Department of Education to insure that all Louisiana children could receive a weekly art lesson.
She was a member of the executive board of the Louisiana State Arts Council and a founder and board member of the Hammond Arts Council now the Hammond Regional Arts Center. She was a charter member of the Alliance for Arts in Education, served on the advisory board of the New Orleans Museum of Art, and was a member of the Louisiana Arts Educator Association.
Her arts advocacy earned plaudits from many sources. Marjorie was named a Life Fellow, Royal Society of Arts, London, England. She was awarded a medal of appreciation from the Louisiana Council for Music and the Performing Arts, an honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree from Southeastern Louisiana University, the Governor’s Art Patron of the Year Award, a Medal of Appreciation from Jeunesse d’Orleans in 1997 among others. In 2010 Louisiana Public Broadcasting honored her as A Louisiana Legend.
In Hammond Mrs. Morrison served on a number of volunteer boards, supported Southeastern Louisiana University’s Visual and Performing Arts Department and the University Library. Never just a nominal board member she was an active participant in every project and program. She may well have been the most active patron of the Hammond Branch of the Tangipahoa Parish Library System. A revered personage in the Hammond Community, most people knew Mrs. Morrison. In 1983 she was named Hammond’s Woman of the Year, by the Hammond Junior Auxiliary. In 1986 she reigned as the first Queen of the Krewe of Omega. She served on the executive board of the Hammond Centennial Commission. Southeastern Louisiana University named her a Golden Ambassador. She was Hammond’s “Grand Dame.”
As much as she loved the City of Hammond she was an inveterate world traveler. She read extensively about the places she planned to visit. One companion on a trip to Egypt noted that Marjorie rode a camel in a silk suit with high heels! At age 86 she made a solo trip to Greece and Turkey.
At her home Shadowcreek in suburban Hammond she lived in the midst of color. Her extensive azalea and camellia gardens bloomed over a period of months each year. She enjoyed her art collection and shared it with guests at lovely small dinner parties. She particularly loved to prepare hors d’oeuvres to be accompanied with well- chilled champagne. Frequently, she supplied her culinary specialties for gallery openings, lectures and post-concert receptions. A gourmet supper club brought her great pleasure. A few years ago she published a cookbook for family and friends.
Her son Hobby recalled, “She was a glass half full (or mostly full) kind of person. An optimist. She loved flowers, bright colors, classical music and young people. Of course, just about everyone was 'young' to her.” The bumper sticker on her car read 'Proud to be a Democrat.'"
The family will receive guests at the Grace Memorial Episcopal Church Parish Hall before services on Saturday, January 30, 2016 beginning at 9:30 AM. The funeral will begin at 11 AM in the Church.
Arts patron and philanthropist Marjorie Abbey Morrison died January 25, 2016. Born November 8, 1916 in the Mississippi Delta town of Webb, she was valedictorian of her high school class (All Saints College in Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1933), and then earned a B.A. degree from Mary Baldwin College, in Staunton, Virginia (1937). She did post-graduate study at the New York School of Interior Design. Marjorie married a South Louisiana lawyer, James Hobson Morrison on February 14, 1940. They had two sons James Hobson Morrison, Jr. (Lisa) and Benjamin Abbey Morrison.
She was predeceased by her parents Thomas Benton Abbey and Julia Cochran Abbey, a brother Benton, a sister, Jenny, and her husband of sixty years, former United States Congressman James H. “Jimmy” Morrison. She is survived by her sons, Hobby and Benjy, two grandsons, James Scott Morrison and Richmond Blair Morrison, as well as three nephews Edward Pierce, Raymond Pierce, and Harry Lee.
In addition to her family she loved the arts. A regular patron of the Louisiana Philharmonic, the New Orleans Ballet, and the New Orleans Opera, she supported the cultural offerings of Hammond’s Columbia Theatre. Marjorie frequented the galleries on Royal and Julia Streets. Her private collection included works by a number of Louisiana artists including George Dureau, Elmore Morgan, Joey Bonhage, Michael Ledet, Barbara Tardo, Gail Hood, Rhea Geary, George Dunbar and others. She devoted much of her time promoting arts education in Louisiana’s schools. When the State eliminated funding for art education In 1967, Marjorie, while vice president of the Louisiana Council for Music and the performing Arts, created The Arts Slide Lending Library in cooperation with the State Department of Education to insure that all Louisiana children could receive a weekly art lesson.
She was a member of the executive board of the Louisiana State Arts Council and a founder and board member of the Hammond Arts Council now the Hammond Regional Arts Center. She was a charter member of the Alliance for Arts in Education, served on the advisory board of the New Orleans Museum of Art, and was a member of the Louisiana Arts Educator Association.
Her arts advocacy earned plaudits from many sources. Marjorie was named a Life Fellow, Royal Society of Arts, London, England. She was awarded a medal of appreciation from the Louisiana Council for Music and the Performing Arts, an honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree from Southeastern Louisiana University, the Governor’s Art Patron of the Year Award, a Medal of Appreciation from Jeunesse d’Orleans in 1997 among others. In 2010 Louisiana Public Broadcasting honored her as A Louisiana Legend.
In Hammond Mrs. Morrison served on a number of volunteer boards, supported Southeastern Louisiana University’s Visual and Performing Arts Department and the University Library. Never just a nominal board member she was an active participant in every project and program. She may well have been the most active patron of the Hammond Branch of the Tangipahoa Parish Library System. A revered personage in the Hammond Community, most people knew Mrs. Morrison. In 1983 she was named Hammond’s Woman of the Year, by the Hammond Junior Auxiliary. In 1986 she reigned as the first Queen of the Krewe of Omega. She served on the executive board of the Hammond Centennial Commission. Southeastern Louisiana University named her a Golden Ambassador. She was Hammond’s “Grand Dame.”
As much as she loved the City of Hammond she was an inveterate world traveler. She read extensively about the places she planned to visit. One companion on a trip to Egypt noted that Marjorie rode a camel in a silk suit with high heels! At age 86 she made a solo trip to Greece and Turkey.
At her home Shadowcreek in suburban Hammond she lived in the midst of color. Her extensive azalea and camellia gardens bloomed over a period of months each year. She enjoyed her art collection and shared it with guests at lovely small dinner parties. She particularly loved to prepare hors d’oeuvres to be accompanied with well- chilled champagne. Frequently, she supplied her culinary specialties for gallery openings, lectures and post-concert receptions. A gourmet supper club brought her great pleasure. A few years ago she published a cookbook for family and friends.
Her son Hobby recalled, “She was a glass half full (or mostly full) kind of person. An optimist. She loved flowers, bright colors, classical music and young people. Of course, just about everyone was 'young' to her.” The bumper sticker on her car read 'Proud to be a Democrat.'"
The family will receive guests at the Grace Memorial Episcopal Church Parish Hall before services on Saturday, January 30, 2016 beginning at 9:30 AM. The funeral will begin at 11 AM in the Church.
She was predeceased by her parents Thomas Benton Abbey and Julia Cochran Abbey, a brother Benton, a sister, Jenny, and her husband of sixty years, former United States Congressman James H. “Jimmy” Morrison. She is survived by her sons, Hobby and Benjy, two grandsons, James Scott Morrison and Richmond Blair Morrison, as well as three nephews Edward Pierce, Raymond Pierce, and Harry Lee.
In addition to her family she loved the arts. A regular patron of the Louisiana Philharmonic, the New Orleans Ballet, and the New Orleans Opera, she supported the cultural offerings of Hammond’s Columbia Theatre. Marjorie frequented the galleries on Royal and Julia Streets. Her private collection included works by a number of Louisiana artists including George Dureau, Elmore Morgan, Joey Bonhage, Michael Ledet, Barbara Tardo, Gail Hood, Rhea Geary, George Dunbar and others. She devoted much of her time promoting arts education in Louisiana’s schools. When the State eliminated funding for art education In 1967, Marjorie, while vice president of the Louisiana Council for Music and the performing Arts, created The Arts Slide Lending Library in cooperation with the State Department of Education to insure that all Louisiana children could receive a weekly art lesson.
She was a member of the executive board of the Louisiana State Arts Council and a founder and board member of the Hammond Arts Council now the Hammond Regional Arts Center. She was a charter member of the Alliance for Arts in Education, served on the advisory board of the New Orleans Museum of Art, and was a member of the Louisiana Arts Educator Association.
Her arts advocacy earned plaudits from many sources. Marjorie was named a Life Fellow, Royal Society of Arts, London, England. She was awarded a medal of appreciation from the Louisiana Council for Music and the Performing Arts, an honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree from Southeastern Louisiana University, the Governor’s Art Patron of the Year Award, a Medal of Appreciation from Jeunesse d’Orleans in 1997 among others. In 2010 Louisiana Public Broadcasting honored her as A Louisiana Legend.
In Hammond Mrs. Morrison served on a number of volunteer boards, supported Southeastern Louisiana University’s Visual and Performing Arts Department and the University Library. Never just a nominal board member she was an active participant in every project and program. She may well have been the most active patron of the Hammond Branch of the Tangipahoa Parish Library System. A revered personage in the Hammond Community, most people knew Mrs. Morrison. In 1983 she was named Hammond’s Woman of the Year, by the Hammond Junior Auxiliary. In 1986 she reigned as the first Queen of the Krewe of Omega. She served on the executive board of the Hammond Centennial Commission. Southeastern Louisiana University named her a Golden Ambassador. She was Hammond’s “Grand Dame.”
As much as she loved the City of Hammond she was an inveterate world traveler. She read extensively about the places she planned to visit. One companion on a trip to Egypt noted that Marjorie rode a camel in a silk suit with high heels! At age 86 she made a solo trip to Greece and Turkey.
At her home Shadowcreek in suburban Hammond she lived in the midst of color. Her extensive azalea and camellia gardens bloomed over a period of months each year. She enjoyed her art collection and shared it with guests at lovely small dinner parties. She particularly loved to prepare hors d’oeuvres to be accompanied with well- chilled champagne. Frequently, she supplied her culinary specialties for gallery openings, lectures and post-concert receptions. A gourmet supper club brought her great pleasure. A few years ago she published a cookbook for family and friends.
Her son Hobby recalled, “She was a glass half full (or mostly full) kind of person. An optimist. She loved flowers, bright colors, classical music and young people. Of course, just about everyone was 'young' to her.” The bumper sticker on her car read 'Proud to be a Democrat.'"
The family will receive guests at the Grace Memorial Episcopal Church Parish Hall before services on Saturday, January 30, 2016 beginning at 9:30 AM. The funeral will begin at 11 AM in the Church.
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