Dr. William Morris Britt, Professor Emeritus, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, died peacefully on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at Presbyterian Hospital Main in Charlotte following six months of declining health after an automobile accident in January.

Bill was born August 10, 1932, to Clem Gladstone Britt and Nora Parker Britt in Robeson County, NC where he grew up, played sports, served as class president and was graduated from Rowland High School. He attended Catawba College, where he was a three-sport athlete, and Presbyterian Junior College before joining the Army during the Korean War. From Fort Jackson he served in Alaska, also playing basketball for the All-Alaska Basketball Command.

He had enjoyed the mountains on baseball trips there, so after his military service he enrolled for his final two years at Western Carolina University where he earned a B.S. in History and Education with Honors, met and married his wife of 54 years, Julia Moody Britt, and began his teaching career in Charlotte at North Mecklenburg High, Newell Junior High and at South Mecklenburg High in its first year of operation.

From 1960-1964 he and Julia taught with the Army??s Dependent Schools in France and Germany, where he also served as an assistant principal. He had already completed a Masters in Educational Administration and Supervision at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and upon returning to the States earned his Doctorate in Education from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and served as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development.

In 1972, the family moved to Charlotte where Dr. Britt served as Vice Chancellor for Development at UNCC for fourteen years and then as Senior Professor of Education and Supervision until he retired in 2001.

Daughter Bronwyn was born in Munich, August 24, 1963 and two years later twin sons, James and Jeffrey were born in Knoxville on their sister??s birthday. Nothing pleased their father more than moving from Indian Princess outings to leading Boy Scout troops, coaching baseball for years and attending basketball, tennis, swimming, golf, cross-country, and all manner of events in which his children participated. Family trips to Ocean Isle and Litchfield remain memorable.

He was a member of Sardis Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church; the Charlotte Rotary Club, the Charlotte City Club, Phi Delta Kappa, and many other professional organizations, civic fund raisers, and events with the UNCC Development Office. He continued to enjoy playing tennis and golf regularly. Baseball, however, was his first love in sports, and he always somewhat regretted turning down a pro offer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister, Elizabeth and cousins Horace and Yates Britt, who grew up with his family.

He is survived by his wife, who was at his side throughout his illness, his devoted daughter, Bronwyn Britt Springer and her husband Adam of Newfoundland, NJ, his son William James Britt and granddaughter, Helen Ayshling Britt of Stuttgart, Germany, and his son Jeffrey Morris Britt of Charlotte and grandson, Jeffrey Morris Britt, Jr. of Mars Hill. He is also survived by his beloved sister, Sarah Grace Britt Scott of Lumberton who has always been his greatest supporter, promoter, and caregiver as she has continued to be to the end. Along with his immediate family, cousins, loyal friends, students and colleagues have all been most important in his life.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Selwyn Spangenthal, Christine Schmidlin, and all of the staff at Charlotte Lung and Health Center for years of devoted care, Dr. Scott McLanahan and his associates at Charlotte Neurosurgery and Spine for exceptional attention and care during and following his brain surgery; heart specialist, Dr. Kevin Hsu, Dr. J. George Thomas of Mercy Rehab, the entire staff of Asbury Care Center, residents and staff at Sunrise Assisted Living and all of the remarkable people at Presbyterian Hospital Main who have provided exceptional care during three hospitalizations there. We are grateful to each and every one of you.

Floyd Mortuary & Crematory, Inc. of Lumberton is serving the family of Dr. Britt who will receive friends at the mortuary on Friday evening from 7:00-8:30 PM.

A memorial service will be held at Rowland Methodist Church on Saturday at 11:00 AM. Following the service the family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall. Inurnment will be private.

Memorials may be made to the charity or organization of the donor??s choice and will be gratefully acknowledged by the family.