The family will receive friends and relatives at FairHaven Funeral Home, 4989 Mount Pleasant Church Rd, Macon on Thursday, September 6, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. A memorial service will begin at 4:00 p.m. in the chapel for Rev. Thomas Wilson Morton who passed away on September 3, 2018. Born Tuesday, September 16, 1941, he was the son of the late Wellborn Carter Morton, Sr. and Ethel Wilson Morton of Jackson, Georgia. Preceding him in death were his parents, his step-son James “Jimmy” Etheridge; his three sisters Edith Amelia Morton, Alice Dixie Morton Denny, Ona Irene Morton Hayse, and his first wife Diane Bridges Morton of Marietta, Georgia; three nephews Thomas Eugene Morton of Jackson; David L. Denny, and Michael Hayse, both of Indianapolis, Indiana. Mr. Morton received his education in the public schools of Jackson, Butts County, Georgia, graduating from Jackson High School in 1959. He continued his education at Truett-McConnell Junior College in Cleveland, Georgia (now Truett-McConnell University), graduating in 1961. In 1963 he graduated from Mercer University in Macon with a Bachelor of Arts in English. He also served as a summer missionary to Columbus, Ohio in 1963; to Alva, Oklahoma in 1964; and to Reno, Nevada in 1965. He then taught English in the public schools of Georgia:
Houston, Douglas, Milner, Bibb, plus one year at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia. He received his Master’s certification in library media technology from Georgia State in 1993, then served as a Media Specialist (librarian) in Hancock and Macon counties, retiring in 2005 after 27+ years in education. After retirement, he served as a substitute teacher in Griffin-Spalding, Clayton and Houston county school systems.

In September, 1972 he was ordained into the gospel ministry by Macedonia Baptist Church of Jackson to serve as pastor of Adgateville Baptist Church south of Monticello. He received his Master of Divinity degree in 1976 and his Master of Religious Education degree in 1977 from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana. While in seminary, he served as associate pastor with responsibilities in education and youth of First Baptist Church in St. Rose, Louisiana. He later served as pastor of Dames Ferry Baptist Church in Juliette, Georgia; Scottsboro Baptist Church of Milledgeville and retired from the pastorate of Adgateville Baptist Church after his second tenure there for an additional fifteen years.

Survivors include his wife Linda M. Etheridge of Bonaire, Georgia; step-daughters Michelle Ramsey (David) of Cartersville, Georgia; Patricia Etheridge Wisecup (Eddie) of Warner Robins; Sheila Collins Jones (Derrick) of South Haven, Mississippi; Cindy Collins Whitehead of Macon; and Tonya Chulawat (Pook) of Warner Robins; step-sons Michael Etheridge (Cyndi) of Warner Robins; Duane Collins (Scarlet) of Macon; and Eric Etheridge (Bobbi) of Warner Robins. Three brothers also survive: Wellborn Carter Morton Jr,
(Miriam) of Jesup; George Lamar Morton, Sr. (Billie) of Wylie, Texas; and Clarence Eugene Morton (Martha) of Jackson; 16 grandchildren; 14 great- grandchildren, a large number of cousins, nieces and nephews.

A private burial will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Adgateville Baptist Church, Highway 11 South, Monticello, GA 31064; First Baptist Church , 626 St. Rose Avenue, St. Rose, Louisiana 70087; or The Gideons International.

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