The Death of Rev. Henry Clay (H.C.) Morrison. Rev. Salon McNeese The Last Earthly Face Morrison Saw.

                                               
                                                  Dr. H.C. Morrison's Last Moments 
                                             Elizabethton, Tennessee, March 24, 1942

   Dr. Morrison was holding a revival meeting for Rev. Solon McNeese, pastor of the Memorial Methodist Church in Elizabethton, Tennessee when called to his heavenly home, March 24, 1942 at the age of eighty-five years and fourteen days. 
   He preached his last sermon on Monday evening, March 23rd. Morrison's last sermon subject was, "How To Bring A Sinner To Christ." After the sermon the pastor pronounced the benediction and went to the front of the church to meet the people. There was a hush on the congregation as they remained seated and refused to go.  Dr. Morrison began singing, "What A Friend We Have In Jesus," and the choir and the congregation joined in. Morrison then offered a prayer for those who held their hands up, promising to do their best to win a soul during the meeting. Still the congregation remained seated. Dr. Morrison then began singing, "On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand And Cast A Wishful Eye," in which the people joined in; then there was a hush and Dr. Morrison pronounced the benediction, and said to the people, "You may run along now."
   { The following day} After we had packed his luggage to move him from the hotel to the parsonage, he suggested that we pray before leaving.  We sat down side by side and Dr. Morrison prayed this prayer: "O God, thou knowest why I am here. Let me go through this meeting with Brother McNeese and witness the salvation of many precious souls, then go home to see my dear wife, and attend to three business matters before I go, if it is thy will; if not thy will, it is all right with me."
   After unpacking his luggage, he ate his supper, and said to Mrs. McNeese, "I am going to like you, and your cooking suits me exactly."
   We took him to the church in the car at 8 p.m., but we could not get him out of the car. He said: "If I could get into the pulpit I would have supernatural power to throw off this attack." Then he bowed his head and prayed, "O God, I know it is presumptuous on my part to even ask this."
   Dr. Morrison's last to forty minutes was spent in the parsonage of First Methodist Church, Elizabethton, Tennessee, with Rev. and Mrs. Solon McNeese. Upon returning from the church to the parsonage the physician was called. Dr. Morrison preferred sitting in the large radio chair to lying down, as his breathing was difficult. The doctor somewhat relieved him. He asked us to pray for him, which I did, asking God to give him to us for the meeting, and to grant the request he had made that afternoon before leaving the hotel. He said, "I feel better. I am all right." Then his head fell over his shoulder, color left his face, and he was gone!
   Mrs. McNeese rushed to his side, stroked his white hair from his face, erected his head to normal position, holding it until the doctor arrived and pronounced him dead.  The undertakers came and laid his tired body upon a white cot, and bore it to the funeral home.
   Funeral serviced were held in the Methodist Church the next day, after which the body was taken to Wilmore, Kentucky where he rest beneath the bluegrass and under the shadow of the institution he loved so well.  Peace be to his memory. 
                                                                                                                  Rev. Solon McNeese
                                                                                                                  Elizabethton , Tennessee

Methodist Memorial Church in Elizabethton Tn. Where Morrison was conducting revival at the time of his death. The church is now occupied by Harvest Baptist Church.

Methodist Memorial Church building where Morrison was preaching in 1942. A funeral service was held for him here, the day following his death. Then his body was removed to Wilmore Ky. , for another funeral and burial.

The residence of Rev. Solon McNeese in 1942  at 406 E h St. The Parsonage were Rev. Morrison died.

Morrison's body was removed from the parsonage of the church and taken to the Roy Hathaway Funeral Home in Elizabethton. 

Death Certificate of Morrison. Dr. Z.T. Johnson of Asbury College of Wilmore, (probably contacted by phone), provided information for the death certificate. He was not able to answer questions concerning Morrison's father and mother, thus it was left blank. 

Funeral record of Morrison from the Hathaway funeral home. The casket was a silver finish nade by the Imperial Casket Company. Casket, and embalming the body were checked, with the total cost of $550.00  The document records the service to be held at Memorial Methodist, Rev. Solon McNeese and Rev. B.H. Hampton officiating. Certifying Physician, Dr. E.L. Pearson. The body to be removed to Wilmore, Ky. 

A death announcement in the Lexington Herald newspaper. Morrison's death was reported in news papers across the country, including the New York Times seen below.

                               Morrison lies in state in Hughes Auditorium at Asbury College in Wilmore Ky. Funeral services were held there on the afternoon of March 27, 1942. The Rev. M.C. Yates , pastor of Wilmore Methodist Church was in charge. The scripture lesson was read by Dr. Z.T. Johnson, and prayer was offered by Dr. L.R. Akers.  Following the account of Morrison's last ours by the Rev. Solon McNeese, tributes to Morrison were given by Dr. W.L. Clark, Dr.Paul S. Reses. Dr. Ira N. Hargett, and the Bishop U.V.W. Darlington. Following a quartet rendition of the song, "No Night There," interment was made, during a down-pour of rain, in the cemetery at Wilmore, Kentucky.

Professor Nancy Richey(WKU) Author of the book, Orphaned No More, the Boyhood Story of Rev. Henry Clay Morrison, stands at Morrison's grave.

THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFT FOR YOUR YOUNG READER, ORPHANED NO MORE, HENRY CLAY MORRISON

Orphaned No More is available on Amazon.com , from Barnes and Noble,  and from Acclaim Press. Orders can also be sent to Gary Bewley 2731 Tompkinsville Rd. Glasgow, Ky. 42141 The price of the book by mail is $15.00,( includes shipping and handling.)