Obituary of Marquita Jacqueline Morris

Marquita Jacqueline Morris fell asleep in the Lord on January 9, 2024, at age 77 after suffering a stroke and a long battle with metastatic breast cancer. She is survived by her brother Charles Brittain, son Jim Morris with wife Olivia, and grandchildren Millie and Wally and her cat Cee-Cee. She was predeceased by her parents Jacqueline and Charles Leroy Brittain, and her grandparents Walter and Mildred Kelley.

Marquita was born on November 29, 1946, in Washington DC. She grew up in Falls Church, Virginia and graduated from Falls Church High School. She often spent time with her great grandparents in Lockwood, Missouri. After High School, she moved out to Kansas City, Missouri to work for her aunt. She then moved to California and eventually returned to Virginia where she began working for the federal government as a civilian for the Department of Navy. She moved on to work for the Health and Human Services and finished up her career as a dedicated public servant working at the Internal Revenue Service. She won awards for her public service, and she retired from the federal government in 2009.

In addition to being a dedicated and loving mother, grandmother and friend, Marquita loved Jesus with all her heart. Throughout her entire life, she held an unwavering faith in God, which she shared with those who surrounded her.

As a single mother, Marquita instilled a strong work ethic into her son. Marquita was an avid reader and loved to travel. For many years, she traveled with her dear friend Claudia Raker, whom she considered a sister, taking trips together. She loved visiting the beach, taking many trips to Baltimore, and going to Pennsylvania and staying at “the Jugs” while visiting with Claudia’s children, parents, and brothers, whom she was very close with and considered them her own family.

In addition to being a public servant, she traveled around the US, supporting Claudia with her association management conferences where Marquita would greet members of the association. She also volunteered her time supporting the Alive Global ministry’s Leadership Team.

She took care of her grandchildren, developing deep bonds with them. Marquita caringly took care of her elderly mother until she passed away in 2021. She loved animals and had many pets throughout her life. She struggled with her health, starting in 2004 when she survived pulmonary embolisms, which almost took her life and a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis in 2019.

After retirement she spent many hours with her lifelong friend Nancy Wenberg where they would spend cherished time together knitting, shopping for yarn, getting their nails done and going to lunch. She was a very creative person, and she channeled her talents into many endeavors including spending time scrapbooking, cross stitching, knitting, and baking her grandmother’s infamous fudge recipe which she would then give to many as gifts. She was always working on some sort of craft project, such as knitting baby blankets, that would be given as a present for someone special in her life. Her love language was acts of service and gift giving.

Marquita touched many people in her life, and she was always willing to listen, talk, and help where she could. She will be missed by many, especially her family.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 11 am at Capital Baptist Church, 3504 Gallows Road Annandale, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute in Marquita’s name to Capital Baptist Church or Shriners Hospital for Children. Shriners was Marquita’s favorite charity because of the work Shriners did for her mother when her mother was young and suffering from polio.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.