Anselm Herbert Morton III, 73, died Friday, October 7, 2016 at his home on the Ridge after a valiant battle with cancer. He was predeceased by his parents, Anselm Herbert Morton, Jr., of Montgomery, AL and Clara Geraldine Crenshaw of the Ridge, and by his sister, Gerald “Gerry” Crenshaw Morton Morgan of Auburn, AL.
There will be a visitation at Dunklin-Daniels Funeral Home from 6 PM to 8 PM on Sunday, October 9, 2016. The funeral will take place at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Monday October 10, 2016 at 11 AM with the Reverend Reid McCormick officiating. Burial will take place immediately after the funeral at the Crenshaw Family Cemetery on the Ridge Road outside Greenville.
Herbert is survived by his wife, Linda Gafford Morton of the Ridge; his daughter, Caroline Morton Huffman and her husband Daniel Russell Huffman of Raleigh, NC; his son, Anselm Herbert Morton IV of Snellville, GA; his granddaughter, Anne Houston Crenshaw Huffman of Raleigh, NC; his grandson, Cameron Russell Huffman of Raleigh, NC; his niece, Marian Crenshaw Austin, United Kingdom; stepmother, Magdalene Eck Morton, Montgomery, AL; half-sister, Elizabeth Morton Eiswerth, Montgomery, AL ; half-brother, John Eugene Morton of Arizona and numerous cousins.
Herbert is also survived by Linda’s family, daughter Mary Jane (Jason) Layfield of Greenville, AL; son Chad Daniel (Ashley) of Greenville, AL; and grandchildren Brooke (Ethan) Mauch of Deatsville, AL; Julie Layfield of Greenville, Al; Elly Daniel and Lucy Charles Daniel of Greenville, AL; and also by Linda’s siblings, Dr. Nancy Gafford (Cris) of Birmingham, AL and Tony (Robin) Gafford of Smyrna, GA.
Herbert was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, spending summers and holidays on the Ridge with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Crenshaw. He graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery and from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Herbert loved the U.S. Navy where he served for six years as an aviator, and for 20 years in the Naval Reserves, retiring as Commander in 1991.
Herbert was active in business in Montgomery and Greenville, spending the last 20 years of his career as a financial advisor for MetLife, before fully retiring in 2015. He served the community as President of the Lions Club, Vice President of the Butler County Genealogical and Historical Society and as President of the Butler County Humane Society for many years.
Herbert loved St. Thomas Episcopal Church where he served as “historiographer” and member of the vestry. Before his recent illness, he still had many plans for projects and travel. He recently completed an historical manuscript, The War Diary of Edward Crenshaw, to be published in the fall of 2017, and was working on a second manuscript based on his adventures with his childhood playmate at the Ridge, Happy.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Building Campaign
210 Church Street
Greenville AL 36037
Butler County Humane Society
PO Box 264
Greenville AL 36037