Morris Sherles Jr. was born June 14, 1944, in Russellville, Tennessee to the late Morris and Ethel (Cain) Sherles.

He was the fourth child of seven. His primary education was in a one-room classroom. He graduated from high school at West High. He completed his education at Morristown and Knoxville College as a math major.

He married Revonda Faye Hanks and to this union they were blessed with three daughters: Yvette, Francena, and Marie. Morris started working at Y-12 Nuclear Plant in Oak Ridge. He became an ordained Deacon at Mt. Bethel Baptist Church in Sweetwater, Tennessee. He sang in the choir and had a desire to learn to play the guitar. He began teaching himself and asked God for guidance. He said the Lord would show him guitar chords in his dreams. He started playing guitar for the Oak Grove Male Chorus of Niota, Tennessee. Theodore Weston was his mentor and was the guitarist for the Golden Tones in which his brothers and cousin sang with, and Joseph Senter was the bass player.

After moving to Morristown in 1977, he played guitar for the Sensational Stars, the Sherles Brothers, and later the Mighty Gospel Tones. He taught his daughter Yvette to play bass, and she later joined the group. They traveled and sang in many churches and states, opening for quartets such as the Jackson Southernaires, The Gospel Keynotes, The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Williams Brothers, and Evangelist Shirley Caesar. Morris was not shy, and he could be found backstage with a guitar player showing him a chord.

In 1989, Morris married Deborah (Swagerty) Cotner, and they were married for 37 years. He was an ordained as a Deacon at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in 1992. He sang, played for the choir, and enjoyed being a servant for the Lord.

He retired from Y-12 in 1999 after 34 years of service. He enjoyed retirement and bowled in tournaments and traveled. He enjoyed attending and working at Bewley’s Chapel Methodist Church in Russellville where he attended as a child. He was over the graveyard committee at the Russellville Cemetery and enjoyed bringing people together to raise money for its upkeep. Morris was an active member of the Men of Vision. These were his brothers in Christ, and their mission is to impact the community civically, economically, and socially.

Morris never met a stranger and enjoyed spending his time with his family and friends. He was a perfectionist when it came to fixing something and tending to his lawn. He was comical; he had many stories and words of encouragement. He left a legacy for us all to follow and will be missed by many.

Morris departed this life on Friday, March 6, 2026, at his residence. He was preceded in death by his parents: Morris and Ethel Sherles; sister, Juanita Courtney; brothers: Robert “Bob”, Edward, and Roger Sherles.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 37 years, Deborah “Debbie”; daughters: Rhonda Yvette (Victor) Goodson, Francena, and Marie Sherles; brothers, Theodore “Mac” and Thomas “Tommy”; sisters-in-law: Darlene and Roxanne Sherles; stepson, Sean (Ebony) Cotner; granddaughters: Kelesie (Skyler) Jarnigan, Kirsten Cotner, and Tori Burnside; great-grandsons: Blakely and Talon Jarnigan; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Funeral services will be Saturday, March 15 at 1:30 pm at Mt. Olive Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 11:30 am until 1:30 pm. Entombment will be Monday, March 16 at 2 pm at Hamblen Memory Gardens.

Arrangements by Dockery-Senter Funeral Home.