ATLANTA--Father Michael A. ("Tony") Morris died Jan. 20 from complications of cancer at St. Joseph's Hospital. He was 59. Father Morris, who was diagnosed with lymphoma three years ago, had been in remission for the past year after undergoing a bone marrow transplant.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Father Morris was held Thursday Jan. 22 at Sacred Heart Church, Atlanta. Interment was at Arlington Memorial Cemetery.

Msgr. Peter Dora, vicar general, was the principal celebrant of the liturgy, and Father James Miceli, pastor of St. Mary's Church, Rome, was the homilist. Father Stephen Churchwell, pastor of Sacred Heart Heart Church, Atlanta, Msgr. Daniel O'Connor, pastor of St. Jude the Apostle Church, Sandy Springs, Father Richard Wise, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Decatur, Father Steven Yander, chaplain of St. Joseph's Hospital Pastoral Care Unit, and the priests of the Archdiocese of Atlanta concelebrated the Mass.

Father Morris was ordained in 1964 and served as pastor of Holy Cross Church, Atlanta from 1972-1973 and pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Atlanta, for 11 years. In addition to these pastoral responsibilities Father Morris served as the director of religious education for the archdiocese. He also served on the board of St. Joseph's Hospital and was the first chairman of the hospital's Mercy Care Foundation, an institution which provides medical care to the poor and homeless.

At the time of his death Father Morris was on a leave of absence. According to Msgr. Dora, Father Morris had expressed his desire to return to an active ministry in October, 1997, and Archbishop Donoghue was in the process of attempting to arrange an assignment.

"Our brother has returned to the Father before this could be effected, but we are all consoled and strengthened by his desire to rejoin his fellow priests in sacramental service," Msgr. Dora said in a letter to the priests of the archdiocese.

During his homily Father Miceli paid tribute to Father Morris for the role he played in Miceli's formation to the priesthood. "I was a seminarian for the archdiocese, two years away from ordination," Father Miceli said. "Archbishop Donnellan had assigned me to Sacred Heart and to Father Morris because, as the archbishop told Tony, 'Somebody needs to take a good look at Miceli before I decide if I'm going to ordain him or not.' These were not consoling words---nor were they intended to be. I suppose, in a real sense, I owe, if not my life, certainly my priesthood to Tony."

Father Miceli was ordained a transitional deacon at Sacred Heart and in 1975 was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Father Morris vested the newly ordained priest he had mentored over the years and preached at his first Mass.

"I do not, nearly a quarter century later, recall all Tony said at my first Mass," Father Miceli said. "But I do remember that he used the Old Testament text, 'You are a priest forever'....And those words so appropriate at a first Mass were also prophetic in a way that I could not know then, and now only have begun to understand."

Father Miceli said that Father Morris was ready to return to active ministry. "One of my greatest joys in recent memory was talking to Tony about accepting an assignment in the archdiocese," Father Miceli said. "I was certainly not unique in my encouragement and prayers that perhaps this would happen. And Tony was ready, with the blessing of the archbishop and the joy of all of us, particularly the priests. Perhaps you can appreciate the immense sense of gratitude and validation that this brings to us priests, how this strengthens all of us, and what peace it brings to this parish and all the people who loved Tony. 'You are a priest forever,' as if there was ever any doubt."

Father Miceli described Father Morris as a priest who was a great teacher, guide, model and example of how to live. "Whenever I am undecided about what to do, I think, what would Tony do?," Father Miceli said.

"As a pastor he always knew the right thing to do in any situation, and he made it look easy," Father Miceli said. "He did it with superb style, competence, confidence and immense dedication to the people and the parish."

Father Miceli said that as a friend Father Morris was always loyal, generous and supportive. "When you suffered, he suffered with you, with empathy and presence," he said. "He was a blend of the personable and the private. Tony was aware, always, of the public side of his personality and life and presented himself accordingly---as a perfect gentleman. He brought all of these qualities to his illness of the past years---and was a remarkable example of patience and acceptance, but also of determination and will.

At the conclusion of his homily Father Miceli thanked the people who had helped Morris through his illness including Sister Frances Ann Cook, formerly Father Morris' pastoral associate at Sacred Heart Church and Phil Coletti, a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church. Father Miceli also thanked those who had cared for the priest at St. Joseph's Hospital.

Father Morris was born at St. Joseph's Hospital, Atlanta, and attended St. Bernard's college prep school in Cullman, Ala. He completed his seminary studies at St. Mary's in Baltimore.

Father Morris is survived by his father Joseph Morris of Wildwood, Fla., and brother Gerald Morris of Anthony, Fla.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested that contributions be made to the St. Joseph's Mercy Foundation for Mercy Care, 5671 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30342.