Bishop James H. Morton, Sr., a well-known former pastor and musician in Detroit who worked as the music director for the late Rev. C.L. Franklin, Aretha Franklin’s father, died on February 11. He was 76.
Morton was born into an illustrious family of clergy. Mount Zion Church and the Canadian and International Churches of God and Christ were both founded by his late father, Bishop Clarence Leslie “C.L.” Morton Sr. of Windsor and Detroit, respectively. The broadcast of his sermons on the radio also attracted many listeners.
Growing up, James Morton lived in Windsor, Ontario, Canada with his family of nine siblings, where his parents, Bishop C.L. Morton and Evangelist Matilda Morton, served as pastor and minister.
Gwendolyn Morton reflected on her brother, Jim (as he was known to family and friends), remembering him as a witty, talented, and protective sibling.
Family relatives say his father heard him singing “You Can’t Beat God Giving” when he was 8 years old, and so he was asked to lead the church in singing it the next Sunday.
Morton honed his skills as a great musician and skilled singer while acting as a minister of music under his father’s tutelage as a pastor.
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He and his siblings, Clarence and George Morton formed a singing trio called the Morton Brothers. Later in life, he and his younger brother Paul would become a singing team that toured the country. He was a fantastic organist, Gwendolyn Morton remarked.
Morton’s musical talents led to him being hired as a musician for Detroit’s Burnette Baptist Church under the tenure of the late Rev. J. Allen Caldwell, and he also served as the music director for the late Rev. C.L. Franklin, Aretha Franklin’s father.
Morton, then only 22 years old, gave his first sermon in 1968 at Detroit’s Mount Zion Church of God in Christ. After that, he became the pastor of True Faith Baptist Church in Detroit, where he stayed until 1984.
After that, he moved on to Atlanta, Georgia, to lead Grateful Baptist Church. New Beginning Full Gospel Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia was founded under his leadership in 1993, and he pastored there until his death, at which time it had around 1,400 members.
Morton was consecrated as a bishop in the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International in August of 1994 by his brother, Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr.
Morton, who was an unofficial protege of the late C.L. Franklin, was frequently asked to preach at New Bethel Baptist Church and was featured on a late-night Sunday radio program.
His brother, Tracy L. Boles, was announced as Morton’s successor as pastor of New Beginning Full Gospel Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia last weekend during a celebration of life service. Boles is a recording artist and the founder of Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International in Atlanta.
Gwendolyn Morton said about her brother –
“He was a great pastor, father and brother. A giant of a man, who had a heart of gold.”
He is survived by his children, Kimberly Morton Powell (Alverrick), Jason Morton (Yuri), his close friend and co-parent for 58 years, Elder Denise Morton, siblings Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr. (Pastor Debra Morton), Ruby Morton Johnson, Gwendolyn Morton, Jacqualine Morton and Jeanetta Morton, grandchildren, James, III., Amber, Tion, Shahollinie, Shaniya, De’Sean, Devontae, Kaylyn, Brandon, Zion, Alani, Trinity, Jason, II., Jules, and Yalayna, nine great-grandchildren and godchildren Nicole Ruff Payne and Jason Welborn, Jr.
