Jefferson “Jeff” Wood Morrow ’77, of Jacksonville, Fla., passed away March 2. He was born Dec. 30, 1954, in Jacksonville and was raised in Avondale and Orange Park, where he honed his fishing skills on River Road and grew up loving the river and horses.
He graduated from Davidson with a major in English literature and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and the rugby club. His interest in writing, directing, and film began with many campus acting projects.
Then for two years he taught English and coached football and soccer at Bishop Kenny High School and also was a realtor in St. Augustine, Fla. Morrow began his interest in the law by attending the University of Florida School of Law and graduated from Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Ala., in 1982.
He worked for the public defender’s office for three years and went into private practice with several local attorneys. His law practice spanned 25 years and was in personal injury, wrongful death cases, and appellate law. He specialized in nursing home abuse litigation, where he was board certified and was respected as an expert. He presented cases before the Florida Supreme Court and 1st District Court of Appeals.
Morrow donated numerous hours of his time doing pro bono legal work for many community organizations. In 2008 he was elected as a circuit court judge in the 4th judicial circuit, where he served in both the juvenile and adult felony divisions.
He was a member of the Jacksonville Trial Lawyers Association, American Board of Trial Advocates, Florida Bar Association, Jacksonville Bar Association, Westside Rotary Club, and Riverside Presbyterian Church, where he served as a volunteer coach in their youth basketball program.
All his career work supported his love for sports fishing, diving, kayaking, and the great outdoors, where “Capt. Duct Tape” organized adventures in Central and South America, the Florida Keys, and the Caribbean, also providing philanthropic services to the local communities.
His most recent endeavor was as a screenwriter and director of independent films. Fins: the Movie is currently in the editing process. Morrow was a devoted husband, loving father, and treasured his family above all his accomplishments. He is survived by his loving wife of 24 years, Susie Morrow, 3898 Arden St., Jacksonville, FL 32205, and their children, Madalaine Chase Morrow and Jefferson Slayton Morrow. Morrow was preceded in death by his father, Matthew E. Morrow, Jr. ’39.
He is survived by his mother, Sara W. Morrow; his sisters, Elizabeth Wery (Louis) and Sally Kirilloff; his brothers, Matthew Morrow (Karron) and John Morrow (Martha); and eight nieces and nephews. He also leaves many wonderful friends, family, and “furry friends” with very sad hearts.
Source: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/timesunion/obituary.aspx?n=jefferson-wood-morrow-jeff&pid=149095971