Clarkston lost its oldest resident on Nov. 26.

Mary Virginia Morris, who was 105 years old, died quietly at home.

She spent Thanksgiving with her family and on Black Friday bought a new outfit for her family’s upcoming Christmas party.

She was buried Dec. 1 at Melwood Cemetery in Stone Mountain.

Morris was born in DeKalb County in 1906 to John H. and Hattie Stanford Morris. She attended Decatur High School and later went to business college.

After her family lost their farm, Morris went to work and through frugal living, she and her sister, Eleanor, were able to purchase their own home. They took in their parents and helped other family members through tough economic times.

An insurance underwriter, Morris was employed by Spratlin and Harrington, where she contributed to the firm’s success.

While she worked long hours, she also had time for play. She enjoyed tennis, golf, swimming and horseback riding and loved to paint on both china and canvas.

As a young woman, she traveled extensively and filled her home with the flavor of far-off places.

After retirement, Morris indulged her passion for travel and dance. She joined a clogging group, toured Europe and performed in many places. She contributed to her community with Meals on Wheels and entertained at senior centers.

Morris cared for her mother until she died at 102.

On her 100th birthday in 2006, the DeKalb Board of Commissioners declared Feb. 2 “Mary Virginia Morris Day.”

Morris is survived by her niece, Nancy Kaye, and her partner, Gary Ecklund; great-nephew Ed Griffin, and his wife, Mary: great-niece Gail Wade, and her husband, David; great-nephew Terry Mitchell and his wife, Dot; great-niece Donna Thaxton and her husband, Steve; great-nephew Allen Mitchell and his wife, Sherry; and great-niece Sandra Mitchell.

Also surviving are several great-great-nieces and nephews, two great-great-great-nieces and a great-great-great-nephew.