Cordena M. Morris

Cordena Mae Morris, age 93, was born on June 4, 1932, to James Benjamin Smith and Louise (Brown) Smith in Toledo, Ohio. She was a woman of many gifts who knew what she wanted and had the courage to reach the goals she set for her life. She was kind, thoughtful, intelligent and wise. With dignity and decency, she would fiercely defend herself and those she loved.

While in high school, Cordena worked after classes at Methodist Hospital in Peoria, Illinois where she passed out food trays. She was offered an art scholarship in high school but turned it down to pursue her dream of becoming a registered nurse. Upon high school graduation she continued working at Methodist Hospital for a year to raise enough money to attend nursing school. In 1955 she graduated from Saint Francis School of Nursing in Peoria, Illinois. Her class was the first class that included African American students, she was one of three. She married, had children and worked as a registered nurse for many years. Her last place of employment was the Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Cordena loved Jesus as her Lord and savior and grew in faith as a member of Residence Park United Methodist Church, Dayton, Ohio until unfortunately, the church had to close. At the time of her death, she was a member of Seeds of Faith Ministries International of Dayton, Ohio led by Pastor Bryan Weaver. She loved her church family and was loved in return. The church members warmly called her Mother Cordena.

Her passions were her family, her nursing career, her love of art and her beloved dog and companion, Lucky. Needlework, paintings, and sculptures she made adorn the walls and spaces in her home. She was teaching a crochet class at church on Saturdays and will be missed by her students.

Her greatest desire as a child was to become a grandmother, and she was an excellent mother and grandmother to her children and to others who adopted her as their grandmother. Neighborhood children called her grandma and came to her home regularly during the summers to swim in her pool. She always had popsicles and her pleasant smile to share.

On Monday, October 21, 2025, Cordena transitioned to be with the Lord. She was preceded in death by her former husband Augustus Morris Sr., father James Benjamin Smith, mother Louise Brown Smith, brother Richard Smith, daughter Melana Louise Morris, son Michael Stephen Morris, sisters-in-law Marcella B. Smith, and Dora Lee Smith, and nephew Donald J. Smith Jr. To cherish her memory, she leaves her son Augustus Morris Jr. and his children Kevin Yarborough (Sheri), Laura McKinney (Donald), Alan DeAngelo, Nathaniel Morris, and Jessica Maiden, her daughter Catherine Ann Morris and her children Brandon C. Smith (Aminah), Jared W. Smith (Nicole), Octavia Smith and her daughter Linda Marie Marshall (Robyn) and their children Andre D. Hutson (Morgan), Chelsea Short-Conte (John), Kristyn Smith and Lavon Marshall, her beloved brother Donald James Smith Sr., 24 great- grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral service 11 am Monday, October 27, 2025 at Seeds of Faith Ministries, 305 Edgewood Ave., Dayton, OH. Visitation 10 am- 11 am at which time family will receive friends. Interment Royal Oak Memorial Gardens. Arrangements entrusted to House of Wheat Funeral Home.

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