Los Angeles Sentinel (1934-2005); Los Angeles, Calif. 28 Oct 1976: A1.
Funeral services for Mrs. Irene Morris, wife of Dr. Charles Satchell Morris, distinguished assistant Minister of Trinity Baptist Church will be held Thursday today at 11am at Trinity Baptist Church. Mrs. Morris, prominent civic and club leader, succumbed following a lengthy bout with cancer Friday Oct. 22 at 12:43pm. A long time Los Angeles resident, Mrs. Morris was socially prominent and was active in the business and club life of the city. She was born in Neosho, Missouri to Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Givens. She was one of 13 children. The Givens family moved to Los Angeles when the children were quite young. Mrs. Morris attended local schools, graduating from Los Angeles High School, and was one of the first Black women to graduate from Woodbury Business College. She also attended University of Southern California. A champion for women in business, Mrs. Morris organized the Business and Professional Women's club 30 years ago at the old 12th Street YWCA now Angeles Mesa Branch. She served as advisor to the group for many years. Dating back to 1922 Irene Morris worked as a bookkeeper for the Unity Finance Company. Her next step was that of bookkeeper for the Ccemetery Corporation where she was upgraded to the role of manager and worked ten years developing the Lincoln Memorial Cemetery. She held that position until she accompanied her husband to Jacksonville, Florida where he had accepted a pastorate. Irene Morris was actively engaged in the business world until 1944 and was truly a pioneer in this area as a black woman. She worked side by side with her sister, Mrs. Paul R. Williams (Della) in the organization of the Wilfandel Club. From the inception of the club until her illness, she was business manager and carefully developed what is today, the leading Black Women's Club house on the West Coast. She was the recipient of many awards. One was from Wilfandel, a plaque, presented to her when she retired as business manager due to illness. She was named an L.A. Sentinel Woman of the Year, acknowledging her pioneering for young Black Business Women. She was also honored as a Best Dressed Woman by the L.A. Sentinel. She was founding member of the L.A. Chapter of Links, Inc., served two years as president of this organization that has been a leader in the presentation of Debutantes while raising funds for national and local programs. In her efforts for International House at UCLA, known as Stevens House, she raised a total of $3000. Irene Morris was also active in the 12-33 Club, until her health failed.
MEMORIAL SET
Memorial services were held on Wednesday at Angeles Funeral Home by her sorority sisters of Delta Sigma Theta. The body will lie in state at Trinity Baptist Church today from 10:00am until the services start at 11:00am. Reverend Elliott J. Mason will deliver the Eulogy. Dr. Fred E. Stephens of First AME Church will be presiding officer. Choirs of Trinity Baptist Church and First AME Church will sing. Dr. John S. William Brent of Evening Star Baptist Church will give the prayer. Ivan Harold Browning will sing, "How Lovely Are Thy Dwellings" and Josephine Cooper will sing The Lord's Prayer. Judge Billy G. Mills will read the acknowledgements and the obituary will be read by Ruth Morris Graham, President of United Church Women of Claremont and sister of Dr. Charles Satchell Morris. Pallbearers will be Judges David Cunningham, Xenophon Lang, Architect Cleveland Winge, associated with Paul R. Williams; Lloyd Herbs, George G. Bullocks, John Clark and Mason Jones. A distinguished group of Honorary Pallbearers will be led by Mayor Tom Bradley, Paul R. Williams, H. Claude Hudson, Dr. Thomas Kilgore, Dr. E.V. Hill, Dr. Gardner Taylor, Dr. Sandy F. Roy, Dr. Robert Foster, Dr. Howard Allen, Judge Edward E. Ricks, Judge Sherman W. Smith, Judge Miles Page and Judge Earl C. Broady. She leaves a son, Lester Freeman II, grandson, Lester Freeman III, Mrs. Paul R. Williams, her sister and only surviving member of the 13 Givens children. Nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends are among the survivors. Angelus Funeral Home has charge of services and interment will be at Inglewood Park Cemetery.
Los Angeles Sentinel (1934-2005); Los Angeles, Calif. 28 Oct 1976: A1.
Funeral services for Mrs. Irene Morris, wife of Dr. Charles Satchell Morris, distinguished assistant Minister of Trinity Baptist Church will be held Thursday today at 11am at Trinity Baptist Church. Mrs. Morris, prominent civic and club leader, succumbed following a lengthy bout with cancer Friday Oct. 22 at 12:43pm. A long time Los Angeles resident, Mrs. Morris was socially prominent and was active in the business and club life of the city. She was born in Neosho, Missouri to Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Givens. She was one of 13 children. The Givens family moved to Los Angeles when the children were quite young. Mrs. Morris attended local schools, graduating from Los Angeles High School, and was one of the first Black women to graduate from Woodbury Business College. She also attended University of Southern California. A champion for women in business, Mrs. Morris organized the Business and Professional Women's club 30 years ago at the old 12th Street YWCA now Angeles Mesa Branch. She served as advisor to the group for many years. Dating back to 1922 Irene Morris worked as a bookkeeper for the Unity Finance Company. Her next step was that of bookkeeper for the Ccemetery Corporation where she was upgraded to the role of manager and worked ten years developing the Lincoln Memorial Cemetery. She held that position until she accompanied her husband to Jacksonville, Florida where he had accepted a pastorate. Irene Morris was actively engaged in the business world until 1944 and was truly a pioneer in this area as a black woman. She worked side by side with her sister, Mrs. Paul R. Williams (Della) in the organization of the Wilfandel Club. From the inception of the club until her illness, she was business manager and carefully developed what is today, the leading Black Women's Club house on the West Coast. She was the recipient of many awards. One was from Wilfandel, a plaque, presented to her when she retired as business manager due to illness. She was named an L.A. Sentinel Woman of the Year, acknowledging her pioneering for young Black Business Women. She was also honored as a Best Dressed Woman by the L.A. Sentinel. She was founding member of the L.A. Chapter of Links, Inc., served two years as president of this organization that has been a leader in the presentation of Debutantes while raising funds for national and local programs. In her efforts for International House at UCLA, known as Stevens House, she raised a total of $3000. Irene Morris was also active in the 12-33 Club, until her health failed.
MEMORIAL SET
Memorial services were held on Wednesday at Angeles Funeral Home by her sorority sisters of Delta Sigma Theta. The body will lie in state at Trinity Baptist Church today from 10:00am until the services start at 11:00am. Reverend Elliott J. Mason will deliver the Eulogy. Dr. Fred E. Stephens of First AME Church will be presiding officer. Choirs of Trinity Baptist Church and First AME Church will sing. Dr. John S. William Brent of Evening Star Baptist Church will give the prayer. Ivan Harold Browning will sing, "How Lovely Are Thy Dwellings" and Josephine Cooper will sing The Lord's Prayer. Judge Billy G. Mills will read the acknowledgements and the obituary will be read by Ruth Morris Graham, President of United Church Women of Claremont and sister of Dr. Charles Satchell Morris. Pallbearers will be Judges David Cunningham, Xenophon Lang, Architect Cleveland Winge, associated with Paul R. Williams; Lloyd Herbs, George G. Bullocks, John Clark and Mason Jones. A distinguished group of Honorary Pallbearers will be led by Mayor Tom Bradley, Paul R. Williams, H. Claude Hudson, Dr. Thomas Kilgore, Dr. E.V. Hill, Dr. Gardner Taylor, Dr. Sandy F. Roy, Dr. Robert Foster, Dr. Howard Allen, Judge Edward E. Ricks, Judge Sherman W. Smith, Judge Miles Page and Judge Earl C. Broady. She leaves a son, Lester Freeman II, grandson, Lester Freeman III, Mrs. Paul R. Williams, her sister and only surviving member of the 13 Givens children. Nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends are among the survivors. Angelus Funeral Home has charge of services and interment will be at Inglewood Park Cemetery.
Family Members
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Addie Givens Lowery
1880–1969
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Philip Clifford Givens
1882–1975
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Walter Givens
1886–1963
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Nathaniel Givens
1886–1954
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Archie D Givens
1888–1927
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Jane Eleanor Givens Lee
1892–1974
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Della Mae Givens Williams
1895–1996
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Gordon Lloyd Givens
1895–1963
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William Adolphus Givens
1900–1963
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Frances O. Givens Greene
1902–1927
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