With deepest sorrow, the family of Korean War/USAF veteran, affordable housing/community redevelopment expert and former Solano County Grand Jury Foreman, Emanuel "Jack" Morris, Jr., 93, has announced that he passed away on February 6, 2025 in the ICU of Kaiser's Morse Ave. Medical Center due to complications prompted by a temporary feeding tube aspiration incident. His services will be held Tuesday, March 4, 2025, followed by his military burial ceremony on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Born in Philadelphia, PA on April 17, 1931 as the only son and youngest of tailor, Emanuel Morris, Sr. and Agatha Coston Morris' four children, "Jack" (a nickname from his maternal grandfather to distinguish from  Emanuel Sr.), was known early on for his sharp wit and humor. He attended Philadelphia's fabled Overbrook High School, whose revered alumni include: NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain (whom he knew); renowned artist Jacob Landau; Grammy/Oscar-winning star, Will Smith; and Emmy winner, Colman Domingo. At Overbrook he played sports and participated in other school-related activities. Overbrook is also where Jack not only met schoolmate, Sylvia Lynch—who unbeknown to either at the time, didn't live far from him—but she would become his high school sweetheart and eventually his wife in May 1952, as he returned from fighting in the Korean War Combat Zone after joining the Air Force, as part of the U.S. Military's early desegregated recruiting effort by the U.S. military. Together they embarked on an over two decades' journey through his Air Force career—that subsequently included having two girls and two boys: Emanuel "Ricky" III, Joanne, Jackie and Dale. His military assignments took them to: Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Alaska; ;T University's USAF ROTC program in Greensboro, North Carolina; Goose Bay AFB, Labrador, Canada (where he also became a Mason); and finally to Travis AFB in Fairfield, CA for his last tour of duty with the Non-Commissioned Officers' rank of Master Seargent. Culminating a military tenure full of many awards and recognition for his USAF work, including that early on Jack earned Top Secret clearance—a feat for a Black man at that time—due to his work with the USAF Inspector General's Office and classified documents, which sometimes found him on confidential overseas TDY trips. Leading up to his USAF retirement in 1974, he moved the family to Vacaville. It is there that Jack, only in his early 40's, continued his public service career as a civilian. Through a special entry program, Jack was hired by the City of Vacaville, that eventually led to his not only administering Vacaville's first public transportation through a grant he wrote, but being a lead administrator in the city's Housing Authority. A role that would land him a position in 1981 as the first Executive Director of Vallejo's then new federal public corporation, Neighborhood Housing Services, at that time just the 7 th in California, supported by federal agencies including HUD and private entities to support housing rehabilitation in economically impacted areas. Over the next twenty years and beyond, between Vallejo Neighborhood Housing Services and segueing to consultancy, he would help people obtain home ownership; repair/rehabilitate their homes; redevelop communities; and more...In addition to professional memberships such as the National Association of House Executive Officers and National Association of Housing Redevelopment Officials, he was engaged in civic/community activities, including in leadership roles, such as: the Kiwanis Club of Vallejo—becoming its president; Solano County Community Council; Bay Area Construction Opportunity Program Board of Directors; the Community Resources Board of Solano County; the Napa/Solano United Way; among several others… He also received national, state and local accolades and awards for his professional work and civic engagement, including as Foreman of Solano County's Grand Jury. Jack's career and civic achievements were also a marvel, because like many Black men of his era he didn't have a chance to traditionally complete a post-secondary degree in four years, though over time he'd take college courses and earned/awarded several professional certifications. That said, he was the proud father of four post- secondary degree holders, including Jackie having an MBA from USF, Joanne a J.D. from UCLA, and Dale earning two degrees in Urban Planning from Virginia State University, as well as Civil Engineering from Temple University. In addition to his parents, Sylvia, his son, Ricky and daughter, Jackie, Jack joins his sibling angels: Gloria Morris Jones, Phyllis Morris Coleman and Mildred Morris Banks; as well as a host of other family, in-laws and friends, including nieces, Valerie Coleman LeVere and Regina Davis Wooding. Jack's survived by: two of Sylvia's and his children, Joanne and Dale; daughter-in-law Crystal Butler-Morris; grandsons, Julian and Spencer Morris. He's also survived by the children of his sisters: niece, Judy Coleman; as well as nephews, Norman Banks and Raymond Banks—in addition to the children of Sylvia's siblings: Tanya Lynch Lone; Claudette Davis Boyd; Thomas "Teddy" Davis, Jr.; Warren Davis; Kim Lynch; Fredrick Lynch III, Tina Lynch and Debra Sims. Jack is also survived by cousin, Faith Council, as well as other extended family of second cousins; grand-nieces/nephews and great-grand-nieces/nephews. In addition to those who were like family to him, including: the Peoples Family/Betty, Charlesetta, Mareo, Dominique, Shamea, Jasiah & Ryland; Teri Brown & Family; The Henderson Family; The Clouse Family; The Union Baptist Church of Vallejo Family; Theria Grady; Osby Davis, Esq. & Judge Terrye Davis, and many others… The family also thanks the medical and spiritual teams that helped Jack with his various hospitalizations and post-hospital rehabilitations over the last two years, especially the Kaiser Sacramento South Medical Center's ICU, ED, Telemetry, Floor and Spiritual Care teams, as well as the team at Fresenius Dialysis Center in Elk Grove. Jack's services will be held at 1 pm on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at Destiny The Experience Church: 9261 Folsom Blvd., Suite 203, Sacramento, CA 95826. His burial as a veteran is being held the next day at 1:15 pm on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery: 5810 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 | (707) 693-2460. Arrangements are being handled by Ramsey Wallace Family Funeral Home & Chapel, Inc.:2319 "J" St., Sacramento, CA 95816 | (916) 891-0500. Please send flowers and cards to Ramsey Wallace Family Funeral Home.