08/05/2026
A true Hero of the Faith!
The Funeral Mass for John Francis Morrissey Jr. will be celebrated on Friday August 7, at 10:45 AM
John Francis Morrissey Jr. found Eternal Peace on August 2, 2026, surrounded by his family.
John was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on May 9, 1948, he always reminded everyone
that it was Mother's Day!
John was the first-born child of Mary Frances Wallace Morrissey and John Francis Morrissey Sr. and grandson to Grandparents Frank DeSales Morrissey (Marie Gazina Schmitz Morrissey) and James William Wallace Jr. (Julia Virginia Howell Wallace). John took great pride in his deep roots in Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry where his long line of ancestors settled and raised their families for centuries.
John leaves a dearly loved family, brothers Frank (Lynn), Patrick (Anne), Michael-deceased (Tammy) and sister Angie. Nephews Bo (Molly), Joshua (Avery) and Matthew as well as nieces Fran (Phillip) and Grace (Cameron). Grand nieces and nephews, Lucy, Reynolds, Libby, Blakely
and Hudson helped complete his joy. He cherished his moniker within the family of 'Uncle BIG'.
John also cherished the memory of sisters-in-law Emily and Rosemary. John was one of
twenty-five cousins, many still in Charleston and the low country who knew him as "Beaudy".
John happily joined his siblings in St. Marys when he retired in 2007. John's career was in
Procurement with Thatcher Glass Corporation in Horseheads, New York and then spent the
majority of his work career with Corning Incorporated at their headquarters in Corning, New York.
After retirement in 2007 John ran and was elected to the St. Marys City Council in 2010 and in 2014 ran and was elected Mayor of the City of St. Marys. John went on to serve three terms as Mayor of the City, retiring in 2025. He leaves many special friends and colleagues from within the City government and St. Marys. John was a lifelong practicing Catholic, very proud of his Parochial education from kindergarten through higher education at St. Bonaventure University followed by his MBA studies at the University of Buffalo.
John enjoyed his long daily walks and occasional bike rides around his neighborhood where he was frequently recognized and exchanged greetings and conversations. John's hobbies included being an avid family history researcher which helped uncover many South Carolina family ancestors and their stories.
John leaves a treasured circle of life long and very special friends with whom he shared
adventures throughout his life from grammar school to college and beyond. He made it known that they helped to make his life adventuresome, full and fascinating.
John LOVED St. Marys and frequently spoke to visitors and citizens about how special this
PARADISE was and how fortunate we are to live in a very wonderful City.
A Catholic mass will be held at Our Lady Star of the Sea in St. Marys on Friday August 7th, at 10:45am with internment at St. Lawrence Cemetery, in Charleston, SC at a later date. In lieu of flowers, John requests donations to the Hospice of the Golden Isles.
