Rudolph Thomas Valentino "Opa" Morris

Come to me,all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest..Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,for I am gentle and humble in heart,and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30(NIV) Rudolph Thomas Valentino Morris peacefully entered eternal rest at his loving home at the age of 82 on May 1,2015. During this time he was surrounded and supported by his family and friends. Rudy was born June 5,1932 in Richmond,Virginia to the late Howard K. Morris and Hattie Boisseau Morris and was the youngest of five children. Growing up on 31st Street in Church Hill,Rudy and the Boisseau family were well known within the community,Rudy was a proud Mighty Dragon and graduated from Maggie L. Walker High School in 1950. Rudy was a lover of all sports,but his all time favorite was baseball which he played throughout his childhood. The love of baseball led him to play for a semi-professional Negro League after graduation. During his time with the Negro League he gained the name "Eagle" due to his quick speed. While loving out his dream of playing baseball with the Negro League,Rudy was drafted into the Army in 1951. He served in the Korean War and earned a Korean Service Medal,a UN Service Medal and a Bronze Star. He also earned the rank of Sargent and this rank stuck with him even after being honorably discharged in 1956 as he continued to be bossy and gave orders to all around him. Coming out of the war,the Boisseau entrepreneurial spirit ignited and Rudy became owner of Cool Lane Bowling Alley in 1969. During that time this was the only bowling alley that allowed Blacks to enter. Rudy spent his days picking up children after school and bringing them to the bowling for recreation and teaching them how to bowl. Rudy sold Cool Lane Bowling Alley in 1979 and began working at Philip Morris until his retirement. On January 26,1974 Rudy married an Armstrong High School Wildcat,Alfreda Payne,affectionately known as Oma. With this union Rudy gained one daughter,Wanda Johnson,in which he was proud to call his own. Soon after,a daughter was born; Rudy's "mini-me" or later known as his "ride or die",Heather M. Anderson. Although not a religious man or church goer, Rudy was a Christian man who loved the Lord. Over the years he developed his personal relationship with God and grew to understand the importance of maintaining his horizontal connection with people and his vertical connection with God. For all that knew Rudy “Eagle”, “Mr. Rudy”, or “Opa” and for anyone’s path that he may have crossed, he always left an impression based upon his charismatic and jovial personality. He was known for referring to people as “baby” or “sweetheart” as he could rarely remember a name. He was also known for his fancy cars over the years. Rudy always had a free spirit and open heart. If he had it-you had it! This characteristic led him to selflessly serving others by volunteering countless hours for over 25-years to the Feed More Meals on Wheels program. He enjoyed delivering meals and helping out any way he could at Meals on wheels where he was selected as Volunteer of the Month in 2005. “Aside from his usual Monday delivery date, Rudy takes some time aside to check in periodically if we are short of volunteers at Willow Lawn even if he has to make 45 minute drive from Ruther-Glen. He enjoys delivering meals to clients and helping out any way he can. He has come through in many ways like delivering microwaves to clients who need one, delivering two routes, etc. Rudy has been volunteering for over 15 years dating back to when his daughter was still in high school and Meals on Wheels was still located on Cary Street. Rudy makes himself known when he arrives when you hear him say, “Have no fear, Rudy’s here!” Jackie Farell Food Sourcing Manager Central Virginia Food Bank July 2005 If Rudy was not serving his community, or touching the lives of others you could frequently find him enthusiastically participating in the Virginia Union Panthers 100s, playing a good game of Spades with the Friday Night Spades Group or at home snacking on his M&Ms and drinking a Coke while enjoying his sports not on just one television but two and do not dare ask to take the remote or turn one of the TV; s off! In addition to his parents, Rudy was preceded in death by three siblings, Rosalie M. Drayton, Hattie “Cat Bird” Evans, and Howard “Duck” Morris, Jr. Rudy leaves to cherish his legacy his wife, Alfreda Morris, and two daughters, Wanda Johnson and Heather Anderson, along with a faithful and devoted son-in-law. Glenn Anderson; four grandchildren, Thair, Tana, and Tapera Johnson, and Elisabeth Anderson; one great-grandson, Thomas Johnson, III. He is survived by one sister, Lillian“Lettie” Braxton. Rudy is further survived by his brothers and sisters-in-law, Alfred and Mary Payne, Louis and Norieta Anderson, and Joe and Irene Yarbrough. Rudy’s legacy will also be cherished by his nieces and nephews Wanda Ross, Faith Drayton, Gloria Taylor, Howard Morris, III (Denise). Wendall Morris, Alfred “Buddy” Braxton,Jr. (Monica),Darryl Watts(Charlene),Gary Watts(Terri Ann),Shana Watts, Lisa Priestly(Roderick),Aaron Yarbrough, Julie Yarbrough and a host of other relatives and many devoted friends, among them William “Bubba” Goode, Vernon “Black”,Joe Horne, Bruce Jackson and Mr. Willie.

Tributes

Rudolph Thomas Valentino "Opa" Morris

June 5, 1932 - May 1, 2015