Decatur – Morris James Whittington, 99, was called home on Saturday, September 25 th , 2021. He was the son of Carey and Winnie Bass Whittington, born in Gloster, Mississippi, on June 23, 1922. Mr. Whittington was a WWII veteran. He served in the US Army, 79 th Infantry Division, 312 th Field Artillery Battalion, in France and Germany. After returning home, he met and married Jessie Pell Whittington. They moved from Greenville Mississippi to Decatur in 1957,

when Mr.Whittington gained employment at the Redstone Arsenal, in Huntsville, Alabama. He later went to work at NASA, and was proud to be part of the space program in the 1960s and 70s. After his retirement in 1977, Morris enjoyed gardening and folk art projects, using wood and concrete to create amazing statues, low relief sculptures, and cedar figurines. He enjoyed sharing his artwork, and often participated in the public displays of folk art held at the Decatur Public Library.

Mr. Whittington is survived by his son, Ted Whittington (Angie), two grandchildren, Amanda Whittington Hood (Lavaughn), and Zack Whittington (Genevieve Diesing), one great-grandson, Caden Hood, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jessie, and son, Rickey Whittington, his parents and four siblings; Thomas Whittington, Grace Whittington Steele, Glen Whittington and Paul Whittington (all of MS). There will be a graveside memorial service on October 23.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Friends of the Decatur Public Library. Ridout's Brown-Service Funeral Home is assisting the family.