Bettye Ann Morgan's Obituary
Bettye Ann Morgan was born on July 17, 1938 to the parentage of the late Wallace and Essia Vell Morgan in Dallas, Texas. She was the first of three children to be born to this union. She graduated from Booker T. Washington Technical High School in 1956.
Bettye accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and was baptized at St John Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. Manuel L. Scott Sr.
The family transitioned from the Roseland Holmes Projects and became homeowners in Hamilton Park a now historic community. There Bettye and the rest of the family joined Hamilton Park United Methodist Church where the Rev. Dr. Zan W. Holmes was the pastor.
Bettye attended North Texas State University in the late 1950's during the tumultuous Civil Rights era. She and nine others students were the first African Americans to integrate the dorm system at NTSU. Fifty years later they were awarded the Trailblazer Award and now are affectionately known as the "Trailblazers". They were the first African American students to be able to live in the dorms on campus. This historic moment paved the way for other African American students for years to come.
Bettye was a well accomplished pianist and songstress and her melodic voice was often called upon for celebrations, tributes and funerals. She served as the Minister of Music for several churches and the most recent Acts Baptist Church. She was a member of the National Association of Negro Musicians which is a world renowned organizations for African American musicians who truly belief in their craft.
She was preceded in death by her loving grandparents Travis Wallace and Willie Frankie Wallace, her parents Wallace and Essia Vell Morgan, niece Latonia Morgan as well as her beloved brother Travis Wallace Morgan. She leaves to cherish her memories, brother Paul Dwayne Morgan (Patricia); sister in law Bernice Morgan; nieces and nephews, Tony, Stephanie, Paula, Marcus, Brett, Tiffany and Brian as well as a host of niece-in laws, nephew-in-laws, cousins, other relatives and friends that loved her dearly and her fond memory of the Civil Rights Era.
Family Visitation will be held at Restland Funeral Home, located at 13005 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75243 on Thursday, January 30th from 5:00pm — 7:00 pm.
Funeral Services will be on Friday, January 315t, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. New Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 9550 Shepherd Road, Dallas, TX 75243, where the Pastor is Dr. Tommy L. Brown.
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