Dr. Ted Morton

Rev. Dr. Theodore (Ted) Roosevelt Morton, Jr., 94, retired member of the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, died Friday, February 6, 2026, at his home, after a long, meaningful and productive life. Dr. Morton was born June 18, 1931, at Wilson, North Carolina, to Theodore R. Morton, Sr., and Katherine M. Morton. He was educated in the public schools of North and South Carolina, and graduated from McClenaghan High School, Florence, South Carolina, in the Class of 1949. He was a graduate of Wofford College, Spartanburg, South Carolina, Class of 1953, and The Divinity School of Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, Class of 1956. In the Winter of 1969, he completed specialized training at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, to prepare for service in Retirement Housing Management. Wofford College conferred the Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1981 recognizing his service to South Carolina Methodism. Dr. Morton married Henrietta Mayo Rosson on August 20, 1954, in Liberty Universalist Church, at Feasterville, in Fairfield County, South Carolina, near her home at Shelton. They returned to Liberty Church frequently as they served offices in the Coleman-Feaster-Mobley Family Association. Three children blessed their marriage: Kent, Teddi and Bill. He was a Ministerial Member of the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, Elder, 1956, and held several offices in his more than 70 years of conference membership. He attended Main Street United Methodist Church, Greenwood, and the Bible Sunday School Class. Having graduated from Wofford College with a Commission in the US Army via College ROTC, in September 1956, Dr. Morton began active duty as an Army Chaplain to fulfill his ROTC obligation for service. His first duty assignment was Fort Benning, Georgia, with the 15th Infantry Regiment, Third Infantry Division. At the end of 1957, the third division began a unit-by-unit move to West Germany to replace the 10th Infantry (the Mountain Division). The Morton family - Ted, Henrietta and Kent, born in 1957 at Fort Benning, moved to Bamberg in Bavaria, serving there until April 1961. Teddi, born at the US Army Hospital, Nuremburg, joined the family in 1959. Dr. Morton left active duty when the family returned to the States, and was appointed Associate Minister of Shandon United Methodist Church, Columbia, SC. Bill joined the family in 1963, during the Columbia years. Following three years at Shandon UMC, and four years in Aiken County (serving Bethel UMC Church, Jackson, and Wesley Chapel UMC, Beech Island), he was appointed to begin the development of Greenwood Methodist Home (now "Wesley Commons"); so, in the Summer of 1968, the Morton family moved to Greenwood. He served for 27 years at Greenwood Methodist Home, retiring as President in June 1995. From 1984 until 1986 he served as Secretary of the SC Conference of the United Methodist Church, working with Bishop Edward Tullis and Bishop Roy Clark. He was serving as a Foundation Director at the time of his death for the SC United Methodist Foundation, of which he was a Founding Member and had at one time served as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Following his active duty service, he served in the US Army Reserve in the First and Third Brigades (SC and NC) of the 108th Division (Training), retiring in 1991 as a Lieutenant Colonel. During his years of service in Greenwood, Dr. Morton established the “Meals-on-Wheels” food services program, working from the basement of the Greenwood Methodist Home Nursing Center, utilizing their Food Service Department, to provide hot, healthy meals to seniors in the Greenwood Community. He later led the effort to create the Greenwood County Council on Aging (now Piedmont Agency on Aging) when the late John Nave, then Mayor of Greenwood, made the request. The Council then established the Greenwood Senior Center for seniors in the Greenwood Community and eventually assumed operations of the ongoing "Meals-on-Wheels" food services program. Dr. Morton also held membership and served in official positions with the SC Association of Not-for-Profit Homes and Services for the Aging, which he helped establish and served for six months as Executive Director; the Greater Carolina Association of Non-Profit Homes; the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging; the SC Commission on Aging; the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA); The Self Foundation, as a Trustee; the Greenwood Rotary Club, being named a Paul Harris Fellow in 1982; the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, as a Board Member and Committee Chair; The Greenwood County Chapter of the American Red Cross; the Greenwood United Way; and was a current Patriot of the Star Fort Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, having served as a past President, and was the current and longstanding Chapter Chaplain. He was active in various other local civic clubs during the many years of his ministries in South Carolina. In 2019, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster awarded Dr. Morton "The Order of The Palmetto," the State's highest award for service. In 1976, he was the recipient of the Community Service Award by Rotary International; and was a decorated Army Commendation Medal recipient, for meritorious service. Dr. Morton is survived by his wife of 71 years, Henrietta Rosson Morton; his three children, Kenneth (Kent) Patterson Morton; Theodora (Teddi) Rosson Morton Miles; and William (Bill) Spencer Morton, II., three grandchildren Kristen M. Anderson, Megan K. Miles and James Rosson (Ross) Miles, and six great-grandchildren, Ethan Brock Anderson, Edward Blake Anderson, Eli Bryce Anderson, Cora Stassaline (Stassi) Miles, Michelle Jade (MJ) Miles and William (Liam) James Miles. His sister and only sibling, Ann Morton Pitt (Mrs. W. W. Pitt, Jr.), of Merritt Island, Florida, also survives him. Dr. Morton credits much of his accomplishments in life on the outstanding education he received and was proud to be born into a family that exemplified the value of volunteerism. He was most proud to have developed a retirement community in Greenwood which achieved such great success. Memorial contributions may be made to The SC United Methodist Foundation, Post Office Box 5087, Columbia, SC 29250-5087 – and designated for the Theodore R. Morton, Jr., Scholarship Fund (benefitting Wofford College students). A memorial service will be announced at a later date, with a private burial at Elmwood Cemetery, Columbia. The family is at the home in Greenwood.

Dr. Ted Morton

June 18, 1931 - February 6, 2026

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