Dr. William LeRoy (Bill) Morgan passed into the arms of Jesus on August 17th, 2024 in Farragut Tennessee on his 68th wedding anniversary.Preceded in death by his parents WD and Marianna (nee Manning) Morgan and his sister Polly Ann Morgan Finley. Born in Drew, Missippi and raised in Memphis, his churches always played an important role in his life and spiritual development. It was at Calvary Baptist that he accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, was baptized and later felt a calling into ministry and was ordained in 1956. That same year he married his high school sweetheart Noreta Smith. In 1957 he graduated from Missippi College and later attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, receiving both a Masters and Doctorate degree. Noreta and Bill were appointed as missionaries to Brazil in 1964. In 1966 they moved to Florianopolis with their children and began ministry of starting new churches. After a decade of ministry they moved to Rio de Janeiro to work with the Brazilian Baptist Board of National Missions. Returning to the US in 1985, he jioned the staff of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Bill retired as Director of Missionary Enlistment Department of the IMB in 2003 and moved to Knoxville. Bill came out of retirement to serve with First Baptist Concord's Missions Department for another decade, coordinating church planting partnerships across the US.
Bill leaves and dearly loved their three children; Donna Gayle Morgan of Knoxville, William Andrew Morgan (Linda) of Christiana and Kenneth Paul Morgan (Julie) of Knoxville as well as 13 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. He is survived by his sister Jane Morgan Palisoul (Archie) ofClearwater, Texas.
Celebration of life services for Bill will be held August 24 in the Chapel of First Baptist Concord Church. Visitation at 10:30am to 12:00pm with a service following.
In lieu of flowers, loved ones may honor Bill's service to missions via donation to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering ( https://www.imb.org/give-now/ or the Bible Broadcast Network of Charlotte, NC.