Paul Meade Morrison

Paul Meade Morrison, Jr., 75, of Lynchburg, Virginia died peacefully at Westminster Canterbury on October 29, 2023. Born in Lynchburg on August 6, 1948, he was the son of the late Paul Meade Morrison and Helen Edwards Morrison. Paul graduated from Holy Cross Catholic School in 1966. He earned his B.S. ’70 in Marketing Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He started his long teaching career as the Marketing Education Coordinator at Groveton High School in Fairfax County, Virginia. Then, he earned his M.S. ’73 in Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.  He joined the faculty at Central Virginia Community College as an instructor in 1973, where he remained until his retirement in 2017 as an Associate Professor.  Known to many as Mr. Morrison, he also taught adults in continuing education and led courses in Management and Business Law, planned and implemented web-based courses in Introduction to Business, Principles of Supervision, and Business Law. Throughout his career, Paul poured his patient and sincere efforts into his associated Marketing and Management consulting services. He served as the Co-Director of the Region 2000 Small Business Development Center, where he helped dozens of small businesses succeed. 

Paul is survived by his wife of 53 years, Laura Keaton Morrison; daughter, Sarah Morrison Wardrop and her husband, Richard of Chagrin Falls, OH, and son, Paul Meade Morrison, III of New York, NY. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Mary Grace, Luke Richard and Anna Claire Wardrop; three sisters, Mary Jane Morrison and her husband, Leigh Harris, Helen Morrison Long and her husband, Jim, Julia Morrison Pruitt and two brothers, Donald J. Morrison and John F. Morrison and his wife, Betsy.

To all who knew him, Paul was incredibly giving and generous with his time and talents for Habitat for Humanity, tax prep at Diamond Hill Baptist Church, and classic Mustang restoration. He was a force of good in the lives of others. Paul’s enthusiasm was memorable from helping generations of students with his educational expertise to coaching youth basketball in the Holy Cross Saturday Morning League. A lifelong Hokie, Paul and Laura were longtime members of the Hokie Club in Blacksburg and more recently the “Bridge Hokie Club” at Westminster Canterbury. Regardless of the Hokies’ fate in any contest, his faithfulness to his alma mater was unconditional. 

In his personal life, Paul was fond of walking in his beloved city of Lynchburg, found most days trekking along Rivermont Avenue. With his wife Laura, he also enjoyed nature walks, birdwatching, golfing, fishing, and countless hours on the beach. 

What defined him most, however, was the love for his family, his son Paul, daughter Sarah and his beloved grandchildren to whom he will always be “Nandad”. The laughter and the squeals of Mary, Luke, and Anna were especially dear to him through all games and follies. He enjoyed watching them in their “big performances” whether they be music, gymnastics, or other sports. 

The entire family would like to recognize the unconditional love and care Paul received from the healthcare givers at Westminster Canterbury Lynchburg during his long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Paul’s family would, also, like to thank each Westminster Canterbury staff member for their extraordinary attention and love for him.    

A Memorial Service will be held at Westminster Canterbury on the Drinkard Mezzanine on Friday, November 10, 2023, at 11:00 am followed by a luncheon where family and friends will share stories about Paul. A private internment for the family will be held at the Virginia Tech Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Fellowship Endowment Fund at Westminster Canterbury, Lynchburg.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.