Women Who Inspire: Jo Morrison

Jo Morrison of Kingsport, Tennessee inspires us all by working on housing for those experiencing homelessness—she is 104 years old.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, March 8th, I wanted to highlight a woman who inspires. We created Women | Faith & Story six months ago to be a place for women leaders and learners to meet, dream big and do good together. So while there are a lot to choose from just within this community, it is a woman living in Kingsport, Tennessee who is my pick to honor today.

I came to know Jo Morrison, “Miss Jo,” through Liz Clasen-Kelly, CEO of Roof Above, another remarkable and inspiring woman. Liz grew up in Kingsport and at one time, Miss Jo was her Sunday School teacher. Liz had given a copy of my book, The Hundred Story Home, to Miss Jo and the theme of providing homes for the homeless resonated with her.

Miss Jo had been working with Habitat since 1985 and she knew the power of housing can restore dignity and provide stability for families. But the idea of permanent supportive housing and places like what we built in Charlotte, Moore Place, was new to Miss Jo. After reading, she started to hear a whisper that she needed to do more in Kingsport—she needed to help build a Moore Place.

The kicker to this story? When Miss Jo read The Hundred Story Home, she was 100 years old. Now, while some might think at that age, it is “too late” to try something new but Miss Jo apparently did not take age as a barrier. She began talking with local community leaders about her idea. In November 2018, she persuaded those leaders to travel to Charlotte to see Moore Place. Liz Clasen-Kelly arranged the field trip for twenty people to tour so they could begin to imagine what might be possible in their town. Above is a photo taken that day with me, Liz, Miss Jo and a Moore Place resident. In that photo, Miss Jo is 102 years old.

 From that visit, Miss Jo formed a working group with the Kingsport Homeless Ministry to create permanent supportive housing. In September 2020, I checked on Miss Jo during the pandemic worried that this virus might have hindered her health or dampened her spirits. But she wrote back right away on her iPad that while they were having difficulties with zoning, both the dream and she were very much alive and well. She wrote in part:

    Just celebrated my 104th  birthday!  

Eyesight failing and on a walker.  Blessed with a lot of help

Will try to keep you posted.

     Love,  Jo Morrison

There are a lot of people who at 104 with eyesight failing and the challenges of a huge building project who might give up—but not Miss Jo. She was as hopeful as ever when I interviewed her by Zoom in January. I told her that a lot of women—even at 74—might think it is too late to accomplish something or dream a new dream for their lives but Miss Jo laughed.

“I could have just stayed at home in my rocking chair,” she told me. “But the wonderful thing is when you do become involved, you meet wonderful people. And so life is so much richer for you when you become involved with some worthwhile cause outside yourself.”

Miss Jo has not given up on her newest worthwhile cause. She hopes Kingsport Homeless Ministry and the people of Kingsport will find a way to open that permanent supportive housing by September 10, 2021. She will be 105.

Miss Jo, may all your birthday wishes come true!  

—Kathy

Kathy Izard is an award-winning author and speaker who helped bring transformation to Charlotte in homelessness, housing and mental health. Her memoir The Hundred Story Home has been featured on NPR as well as the Today Show inspiring people to be changemakers in their communities.  www.kathyizard.com

Kathy co-founded Women | Faith & Story in October 2020 to create community and provide inspiration for women looking for their next chapters.