Former Okaloosa assistant school superintendent dies

Former Okaloosa County School District assistant superintendent Dr. Mabel Jean Morrison died Sunday after an extended illness. She was under the care of Covenant Hospice in Pensacola during the last several months of her life. She was 85 years old.

Born and raised in Laurel Hill, Morrison was baptized into the Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and graduated from Laurel Hill School. She supported both institutions all her life.

“We will miss Dr. Mabel Jean Morrison as she has been a dedicated and highly respected educator in our school and county, as well as across our state,” Laurel Hill School Principal Susan Lowrey-Sexton said. “She was so proud of Laurel Hill School and willing to put in hours of personal time and effort to share her ideas and talents in support of our school and community.”

Morrison remained an active member of the Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church up until her recent illness, serving as an elder for many years. Upon retiring from the church's governing body, she was named an elder emeritus.

“A great many had their lives influenced and strengthened because of her foresight, leadership and compassion,” the church’s pastor, the Rev. Mark Broadhead, said. “She will be missed, but not forgotten.”

“I feel very sad that she’s not with us any longer,” said childhood friend McDonald Campbell, a retired fellow educator and member of the church. She remembered Morrison as a staunch Florida State fan and active alumna, and also praised Morrison’s dignity.

“She was a person who did not talk about her business,” Campbell said. “If you talked to her, you’d never know if she was a millionaire or a pauper.”

After graduating from Laurel Hill School, Morrison attended Florida State College for Women (now Florida State University). She was a teacher in Leon County for several years before returning to Okaloosa County, where she taught school while studying for her doctorate in education. She spent 29 of her 45 years in education in Okaloosa County.

She became one of the first women to serve in school administration when she was appointed assistant superintendent of instruction for the Okaloosa County School District.

“She pioneered women in administration,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Alexis Tibbetts said. “She embraced all the strategies for educating our children. I think Dr. Morrison did more to change the curriculum in Okaloosa County than any other individual in this district.”

Former principal at Northwood and Walker elementary schools, Janeane Williams, worked with Morrison for 10 years at Okaloosa schools’ Library Media Program, and fondly recalled her friend as “a wonderful mentor who had very high expectations.

“She always supported us in every way, success or not.  She expected us to take chances and said that we were not working hard enough if we were not sticking our necks out to take chances.”

In 2007, Morrison was named Laurel Hill’s Citizen of the Year, an accolade she shared with Campbell, who said of her friend, “She is truly a Samaritan. She is well known for seeking out those who are less fortunate — particularly children — and trying to help them.”

A local institution that benefited from Morrison’s largesse was the Baker Block Museum, which has several historic farm buildings in its Heritage Park donated by Morrison from her family’s Laurel Hill farm.

“We’re sad to hear about the passing of Miss Mabel Jean. It’s a loss to our community,” Baker Block Museum Director Ann Spann said. “She lived a full and very productive life and has a long history of supporting local historical and educational efforts.

“Mabel Jean was a lifetime member of the North Okaloosa Historical Association and she made many contributions to the museum. It was an extension of her lifetime career as an educator.”

“Having known and worked with Dr. Morrison since 1978, it has been easy to love and appreciate her, but it has been her selfless devotion to children and clearly having the heart of a teacher — one that couldn’t help but teach, wherever she went — that will be a lasting memory for me,” Lowrey-Sexton said.

“She really brought accountability to this district,” Tibbetts said. “She was a huge mentor in my life and played a big role in advancing women in leadership roles. I am just so proud to have worked with her and for her, and to have had her as my friend.”

“Her gratefulness for her own education caused her to care that every child received the best education possible,” Lowrey-Sexton said. “That, for us, is an honored legacy.”