Factiva

Dr. Laura Catherine Gaetjens Morris, M.D., of the 7300 block of Granby St. went to eternal rest on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2000, in Beth Shalom of Eastern Virginia. She was born Feb. 21, 1910, in Brooklyn, N.Y., the daughter of the late Charles Francis Gaetjens and Adele Schmidt Gaetjens, and was the widow of Joseph Perry Morris.

Dr. Morris was a graduate of Elmira College and Columbia University of Physicians and Surgeons, Class of 1935. Following her graduation she opened her first private practice in Pensacola, Fla. Later she and her husband moved to Norfolk, where she opened another practice, and became the medical director of Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters. Also during her varied medical career in the Hampton Roads area, she was active with the Norfolk Tuberculosis Clinic, was chief of Medical Services for the Norfolk Public School System, assistant director for the Norfolk Public Health Department and was director of the Chesapeake Public Health Department. Following her retirement in 1980 she became the assistant director of Admissions for Eastern Virginia Medical School.

Dr. Morris had been a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church for more than 60 years, was the director of the Primary Sunday School Department for many years and was a member of their Third Circle. She was a past president of the Chesapeake Medical Society; Norfolk- Virginia Beach Soroptimist Club; the Virginia Mental Health Association; the Norfolk Women's Club; former chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Southeastern Virginia Training School, and was a member of the American Heart Association and the American Lung Association. Dr. Morris was a member of the American Medical Association, Norfolk Academy of Medicine and the Virginia Pediatric Society. She was also a member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. She was an avid bridge player, loved music and was an accomplished pianist. Also, she enjoyed reading a wide variety of topics.

Survivors include two daughters, Nancy Catherine Morris Dickens of Norfolk and Mary Caroline Morris Kameya of Rochester Hills, Mich.; a sister, Adele G. Copeland of Fair Oaks, Calif.; and three grandchildren, Alison Leigh Haruko Kameya of Royal Oaks, Mich., Jonathan Charles Choko Kameya of Rochester Hills, Mich., and Leslie Catherine Dickens of Norfolk. She was predeceased by a daughter, Joanne Laura Morris Stant.

A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Paul's Episcopal Church by the Rev. Fr. John J. Capellaro. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters or to St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Cox Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

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