Clarence Morrison

JUDGE CLARENCE C. MORRISON

Judge Clarence C. Morrison entered into eternal rest on Thanksgiving Day. A leader in the civil rights and justice communities, he had many accomplishments. In 1980, he became the first African American judge on the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas, where he served for two decades, including serving as President Judge.

Judge Morrison graduated from Howard University in 1954, and thereafter served in the military. Following his Army service, he earned his law degree from Howard University Law School in 1959.

Upon graduation from law school, Judge Morrison and his wife Grace moved to Harrisburg, where he began his law practice and long record of service to the community. He was a founding member of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday school and served as trustee and legal advisor. He was a ten year Boy Scout leader, a member of the Mayor's Committee on Human Relations, member of the Board of Directors of the Dauphin NAACP, Director and President of the Harrisburg Housing Authority, and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Tri-County Opportunities and Industrialization Centers (OIC).

A devoted and beloved husband, father and grandfather, Judge Morrison is survived by his wife of 60 years, Grace Fulton Morrison. He is also survived by his sister, Miriam Tomlinson, two sons, Derricott and Mark (wife Kathy), three grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Judge Morrison's funeral service will begin at 10:30am on Saturday, December 1, 2012 at Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 212 North Progress Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17102. Visitation will precede the funeral from 8:00am to 10:30am at the church. Officiating at the service will be his pastor, Reverend Arthur L. Brown.

Internment will take place at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery on Monday, December 3, 2012.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Tri-County OIC, 500 Maclay Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110, or to Judge Morrison's church, Tabernacle Baptist Church, 1106 Capital Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102.

Services will be conducted by the Hooper Memorial Home Inc.