Vivian Stanford Morton, 87, of Blakely, died Monday, April 10, 2006, at Early Memorial Hospital following a lengthy illness.

Mrs. Morton was born in Richland, July 20, 1918 to the late Rev. Johnston Harrison Stanford and Vivia Dawn Hollis. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Dowd Morton, by a brother, Hollis Stanford of Albany, and a sister, Caroline Stanford Taylor and husband Jack, both of Jacksonville, Fla.

Mrs. Morton is survived by one sister, Lula Stanford Peterman and husband John of Winder; a sister in law, Frances Weatherly Stanford of Albany; two sons, Edward Dowd Morton Jr. of Atlanta and Robert Stanford Morton and daughter-in-law Gregory Faris Morton of LaGrange; grandchildren Molly and Rebecca Morton and Brian and David Morton, all of Atlanta and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Morton graduated from Sparks Adel High School in Adel in 1934 and attended Valdosta State College. She transferred to Georgia State College for Women, Milledgeville, Ga., earning a degree in home economics in 1938. She began her teaching career in Leesburg, Ga. and later moved to Blakely in January of 1942. She and Edward Dowd Morton were married Dec. 30, 1941, in Albany.

Mrs. Morton taught school for more than 20 years in the Early County and Calhoun County schools systems as well as Southwest Georgia Academy in Damascus. She was selected as STAR teacher several times. She retired in 1975.

Mrs. Morton was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Dorcas Women's Sunday School Class. Her hobbies were sewing, cooking, reading and travel.

Mrs. Morton was a charter member of the Blakely Fine Arts Club, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Early-Clay-Calhoun County Retired Teachers Association.

A memorial service will be Thursday, April 13, 2006, at 2 p.m., at First Baptist Church in Blakely with a graveside service in the Blakely Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home tonight, April 12, from 6-8 p.m.

Pallbearers are nephew Jay Taylor, Nelson Hattaway, Billy Glass, Sam Clinkscales, Tom Baxley, Bobby Stanford, Morris Cook and Pat Porter.

Honorary pallbearers are Claude Cook, Guy Dunaway, Charles DeLoach and John Peterman. Manry-Jordan-Hodges Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that contributions be made to the memorial fund at the First Baptist Church.