Jacquelin Major

Jacquelin Morrison Major, age 86, of Coral Gables, FL passed away peacefully on November 1, 2018 while surrounded by family at her Houston, TX home. Services will be held in Decatur, GA at A.S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home on Monday, November 5th at 10:00 AM. Burial will be held thereafter at the Decatur Cemetery. Jacquelin was born in Avondale Estates, GA on January 16, 1932 to Olivia Osborn Morrison of High Shoals, GA and Ernest William Morrison of Jesup, GA. She grew up as a child in Avondale Estates, then spent her winters and increasing time in Miami Beach, FL where she graduated Valedictorian of Miami Beach High School. She then attended the University of Georgia where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Journalism. She was one of the first female editors of The Red and Black, President of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority, and the Sweetheart of Sigma Nu. She married the love of her life ophthalmologist James Calder Major, MD of Atlanta at the First Baptist Church of Decatur on August 17, 1957. They lived a wonderful, joyous life in Coral Gables until his death in 1985. They enjoyed long distance travel and visited Japan, Thailand, China, Argentina, and Chile before most others. She was a Past President of the Young Patronesses of the Opera in Miami and an avid supporter of the Florida Grand Opera. The many close friendships she enjoyed serving YPO and FGO endured decades. Jackee took particular pride in annually spearheading the production of Opera Funtime, an educational book distributed to elementary children in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties intended to foster an early love of music and opera. Her generous spirit allowed her to serve on the Board of Directors for many years of Sunrise, one of the largest not-for-profit organizations in the country dedicated to serving the needs of people with advanced intellectual and physical challenges. Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her two children: Julee Morrison Major of Miami and James Calder Major, Jr, MD, PhD of Houston. She is survived by daughter-in-law Anita Major, MD and her loving grandchildren: Olivia Bagri Major, James Calder Major III, and Harrison Shiv Major, and a host of cousins and close friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a memorial donation be made to the Young Patronesses of the Opera or Sunrise Community, both of Miami, FL.