Dr. Katherine (Kathy) Elizabeth Morrison of Stoughton, MA passed away on March 27, 2023 in her home from complications of Diabetes. Born in Cleveland, OH on February 20, 1972 to Cato and Melvina (Burgess) Morrison in Cleveland, Ohio. Kathy grew up with one sibling, her older sister Lisa Morrisson (deceased) in the Cleveland Heights neighborhood. As a teenager Kathy was the Midwestern Regional Champion of Taekwondo for two years running. She graduated from Bowling Green University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology (1994) and a Masters Degree in Microbiology (1997).
She interned with the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention before her academic and professional interests lead her to obtain a PhD. from the University of South Carolina in Health Promotion, Education and Behavior (2003) She accepted a teaching position and became a popular professor and the Coordinator of the Community Health and Wellness & Public Health & Wellness majors at Curry College in 2007, where she remained until her passing.
In 2008, Kathy placed 3rd in the World Championship of Public Speaking out of 25,000+ contestants. She utilized this talent to speak about one of her many passions, Women’s Issues, speaking at multiple regional and national universities and institutions including the American Public Health Association. She has authored multiple publications, but the one which she was most proud was “Talkin’ and Testifyin’ African American Women Talk about Domestic Violence”
Kathy had many personal passions and pursuits including the Baha’i Faitih, Yoga, African Dance, Kickboxing, Puzzle Games, reading and training misbehaved dogs. She took advantage of her ability to travel and experience different cultures with many of her dear friends, professional colleagues and her mother; visiting Jamaica, Turkey, Greece, Fiji, and Southern Africa on recent trips. Kathy also assumed care for her mother, Melvina by moving her into her home and posting the experience on social media amassing quite a large following whom were charmed by the mother-daughter relationship, adventures, humor, disagreements and drama.
Kathy is survived by her mother, Melvina Morrison; her uncle, Colonel Harvey Hopson (USMC); Aunt Cynthia Hopson; Cousins Alex, Adrienne and Elissa Hopson.
There will be a memorial service for Kathy on Thursday, April 13, at 1:00pm at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 456 High Street, Dedham, MA 02026. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations to the American Diabetes Association P.O. Box 31160, Hartford, CT 06150 will be greatly appreciated by the family.