John Carroll (Buddy) Morgan, Jr. passed away on December 15, 2024. Buddy was born on February 4, 1935, to John C. and Mattie Allen Morgan. He started school in the one-room Limestone schoolhouse in the northern part of Edgefield County and graduated from Edgefield High School where he distinguished himself as an excellent athlete playing football and baseball. Buddy married Elsie Reese in 1958 and together they had four children.

Buddy retired from Riegel Textile with 39 years of service and then worked managing a hunting and wildlife preserve enjoying every minute of it. He was also an adjunct instructor at Piedmont Technical College teaching refrigeration.

Buddy was an avid sportsman and loved fishing and hunting. He would watch any sporting or outdoor event, especially the Atlanta Braves and The University of South Carolina. It was quite entertaining, particularly when he was watching a boxing match as Buddy would duck and weave right along with the boxers. He loved to go to Hunting Island, walk the beach, and go crabbing.

Buddy spent his life in service to others and was a man of great faith. He was a Little League baseball coach, a peewee football coach, and a Boy Scout leader. Buddy was a Past President of the Edgefield Chapter of The National Wild Turkey Federation. He was extremely active in Edgefield Baptist Church and assumed many leadership roles as a Sunday school teacher, RA leader, and as a deacon. He was a proud member of Gideons International. He served our country honorably and faithfully and retired as a Sergeant First Class from the South Carolina National Guard.

Buddy's birdhouses were well known in the area. That hobby combined his love of nature with his love of building. And as he went to local craft shows it gave him more opportunity to renew old friendships and meet and greet new people.

Buddy was predeceased by his parents, one sister Francis Smith, and his beloved daughter Becky.

He is survived by his wife and partner of 66 years, two daughters Faye (Sam) Speight, Susan (Rob) Keck, and one son, Ashley (Kim) Morgan.

He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Carolyn (Curtis) Wright, Heather (Charlie) Reynolds, Brady (Ashley) Speight, Christian (Nicole) Speight, Reese Morgan, Jessica (Matt) Calliham, Brice Morgan, eight great grandchildren and one step great grandchild, one sister, Ethel Aughtry, and a host of cherished nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Services will be held at 3:00 PM on December 20, 2024, at Edgefield First Baptist Church with burial at Sunset Gardens. The family will receive friends prior to the service at the Church from 1:30-3:00pm at the church lobby.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Edgefield Mercantile Funeral Home. Please share a memory or photo at www.edgefieldmercantilefh.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Edgefield First Baptist Church, PO Box 624, 212 Church Street Edgefield, SC 29824 or Gideons International, PO Box 97251, Washington, DC 20090-7251.