Celebrating Women's History Month in the WNCC: Jettie Morrison

By: Jim Pyatt, WNCC Archivist & Historian

Mrs. Jettie Morrison

Mrs. Jettie Morrison (October 26, 1908-June 25, 1986) was a leader in the Western North Carolina Conference and the United Methodist Church, especially with regard to the Woman's Society of Christian Service (predecessor to the United
Methodist Women). She served as President of the Woman’s Society of Christian Service of the North Carolina Conference (and later the North Carolina-Virginia Conference) in the Central Jurisdiction from 1960-68 and was a significant figure in the integration and merger of 1968.

To quote Linda Addo,“‘Miss Jettie,’ as she was affectionately called, became wholly identified with the Woman’s Society of Christian Service. She had served as Secretary of Children’s Work and as Vice-President before becoming President. She became noted for her organizational skills, dynamic speeches, and willingness to go the extra mile. Mrs. Morrison made a special effort to visit all district annual meetings and made sure that many of the district officers and secretaries attended the School of Missions...The women were especially privileged to be led by Mrs. Morrison during the period from 1964 to 1968, for these were years of rapid change...Mrs. Morrison was a member and Secretary of the Inter-Conference Committee on Jurisdictional Affairs. She accomplished much, but she never forgot the fact that what she did was made possible by the women who were working at the local and district levels.” (Linda D. Addo and James H. McCallum, To be faithful to Our Heritage, Second Revised Edition ([Charlotte:] The Commission on Archives and History, The Western North Carolina Conference, 2011), 81-82.)

As a member of Scott's Chapel UMC in Statesville, Mrs. Morrison was active in the North Carolina Conference (Central Jurisdiction) and its successors. “Miss Jettie” served on numerous boards and agencies, including commission on Christian Vocation (1953-56), Board on Conference Claimants (1953-56), Commission on World Service and Finance (1953-68), Committee on Worship and Fine Arts (1954-65), Committee on Nominations (1956-68), Board of Missions (1961-66), Commission on Promotion and Cultivation (1961-68), Commission on Family Life (1961-63), Board of Christian Social Concerns (1961-63), Commission on Town and Country Work (1964-65), Commission on Minimum Salaries (1964-68), and Advisory Committee on Inter-Jurisdictional Relations (1964-68).

Following integration in 1968, Mrs. Morrison served on the WNC Conference Commission on Ecumenical Affairs (1968-74) and as a member of the Nominating Committee for the Southeastern Jurisdiction Woman's Society of Christian Service (1968-72).
 

Be sure to read the other biographies written by WNCC Archivist & Historian Jim Pyatt:
Mrs. Margaret Dixon, the first woman to be appointed a pastor to a Methodist congregation within the bounds of the present Western North Carolina Conference.

Bishop Charlene P. Kammerer, the first (and to date, the only) woman to serve as Bishop of the Western North Carolina Conference.

Rev. Dr. Dolores Queen, the first female to serve as a District Superintendent in the Western NC Conference.

Bishop L. Scott Allen (May 4, 1918-September 18, 2004), the first (and to date, the only) African-American to serve as Bishop of the Western North Carolina Conference.

Mrs. Effie Miller (September 17, 1930-September 1, 2008), a leader in the Western North Carolina Conference and the United Methodist Church, especially with regard to the United Methodist Women.

The Rev. Dr. J. C. Peters (July 10, 1925- July 2, 1998), the first African-American to serve as a District Superintendent in the Western North Carolina Conference.

Mr. Clarence Winchester,  a leader in the North Carolina Conference (Central Jurisdiction) and in the WNC Conference.

Dr. Isaac Miller (September 26, 1920-November 1, 2008), a leader in Higher Education and in the United Methodist Church.