Harold F. Morgan

Harold F. Morgan (Daddy) was born on January 8, 1941 on the island of Nevis, (village of Brown Hill) West Indies to James Morgan and Melvina (Mae) Claxton. He is the 5th of nine children. Harold was raised by his grandparents, Oscar and Albertha Claxton and after completing school, he left home to be trained by his mentor, Mr. Godfrey Powell, who taught him piano, Bible study, carpentry, and tailoring in which he performed as a trade for several years. At the age of 20 he moved to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands where after many years he received the call to ministry and set sail for Bridgetown, Barbados where he studied at Caribbean Wesleyan College (formerly Caribbean Pilgrim College) earning a Bachelor of Theology Degree. Upon his completion in 1965 he returned to St. Kitts where he took up his first pastorate in the town of Old Road and then at St. Paul’s Wesleyan Holiness Church. That same year at the age of 24 he married the love of his life, Bernadine C. Swanston of Gingerland, Nevis on June 5th. In August of 1966 they began their family with their firstborn, Civilla M. Morgan. Over the next nine years the family continued to grow with the birth of four more children. With ruler in hand, Harold diligently tried to teach his children to play the piano before school, but it didn’t “catch.” In 1971, he wanted to build a better life for his new family, so they immigrated to Boston, Massachusetts. Between 1974 and 1983 Pastor Morgan pastored two Wesleyan Holiness Churches, one in Boston where he served faithfully for six years and the other in Hartford, CT for three years. After many years in the bitter colds of the Northeast, the Morgan Family headed south to the Sunshine State of Florida, the city of Kissimmee, in 1983. Harold was a traveling evangelist for many years and continued pastoring in Kissimmee at his last church, Back to the Old Path Holiness Church. He also worked at Walt Disney World where he thoroughly enjoyed his work as a landscaper. The skill and care he took in maintaining the land and the flowers was evidence that he took pride in his work. Being a carpenter by trade, one of his greatest accomplishments was to build a home for his family and he did so with his sweat, tears, and with his own hands. Even his neighbor reminded us of when he purchased the land and began building and working late into the night. Harold was a man of prayer who had a burden for lost souls and was concerned for the well-being of others. He used every opportunity to witness to those around him about the love of Jesus Christ. He would often take his family to the nursing homes after church to sing and minister to the residents. Harold was a hardworking and loving husband (married to Bernadine for 53 years), father, pastor, friend, and a great man of God. He instilled a strong work ethic in his children and reared them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Even in his latter days when his children brought him meals he would say, “where is yours?” or “what are you going to eat?”... always putting others before himself. Daddy, Dad, Grandpa, Uncle, Cousin, Pastor…you are and will be greatly missed. Until We Meet Again! Harold is survived by and left to cherish his memory five children: Civilla M. Morgan, Brainard M. (Nanette) Morgan, Gisela Morgan (Edmund) Bullock, Myrna Morgan (Eric) Lloyd, Bernadette C. Morgan; three grandchildren: Jordan M. (Melissa) Morgan, Brendon T. Morgan, Kylor C. Morgan and one great grandchild Miles Beckham Morgan; Melford Liburd (brother), Myrtle Knight (sister), Samuel Knight (brother), Warren Knight (brother); Alphonse P. Knight (cousin), Maureen Williams (cousin), and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews. Harold is preceded in death by: Bernadine C. Morgan (beloved wife), James Morgan (father), Melvina (Mae) Claxton (mother), Eulalie Knight (sister), Max Morgan (brother), Anthony Claxton (brother), and Valerie Knight (sister).

Harold F. Morgan

January 8, 2023 - September 1, 2023