Our History

When the folks of Greene County think of good food most think of good

barbeque, and the name Morris Barbeque has become synonymous with that

thought. Willie McKinley Morris, whom the older generation may know as

“Pop,” and his wife Frances (Frankie) Hartsfield Dail Morris, lovingly called

“Nannie” by her family, started Morris Barbeque in 1956. But even before that

“Pop” peddled his barbeque down the streets of Hookerton on his mule and

cart. At that time it was cooked under his tobacco shelter on iron rods over a

pit filled with charcoal, corncobs, and oak wood. That would have been in the

days when Hoover was president. However, in February of 1956, he decided

to make his restaurant a more stationary one, and he built what is still standing today as Morris Barbeque. What is now the

“pit” is actually a building that once served as a chicken coop on the farm. The buildings may be old but that is what gives

them the character and appeal they have today. During those early days “Pop” also ran a small store stocked with cleaning

supplies, staple grocery goods, and cigarettes. The store served as a hang out for the people of “Pop’s” generation. Many

would gather together outside of the store to fellowship and hear “Pop” play his steel guitar. Music and laughter must have

filled the air during the weekdays only to be replaced with the

sounds of meat cleavers chopping that delicious, hot-off-the-

grill barbeque on Saturday mornings and the whirr of the

crushed ice machine used to cut the slaw. The smells had to

have been wonderful, too! Imagine the scent of fried

hush puppies, delicious pork, and even the tasty desserts that

“Nannie” would sometimes whip up to sell at the store. But even

better than the sounds and smells had to be the tastes! Cool,

crisp,sweet slaw; hot, crunchy, slightly-sweet hush puppies; warm, moist, vinegar and red pepper-seasoned barbeque;

crunchy pork skins; and tasty ribs; those were the items that were and still are on the menu at Morris Barbeque. For many

years “Pop” raised his own hogs and continued to cook with charcoal.In later years he switched to gas, but the recipe was

still every bit as delicious as before! The restaurant was a family

affair, with many family members filling different positions

over the years. When dear “Pop” passed on to his heavenly

home on December 19, 1991, preceded in death by his dear

wife “Nannie” on April 29, 1974, the family business was left to

his grandson William Franklin Morris, Jr. Today the tradition

continues with very little changes in the recipe and methods that

“Pop” used. And it is still a family affair, continued today by

grandson William Morris and great-granddaughter Ashley. They both enjoy hearing a new story every Saturday from

someone who once new “Pop” or stopped by to buy his barbeque. Many hold trips to Morris Barbeque as a dear memory

within their hearts and continue to return years later even though many have moved to other states and can only make it

home to Greene County occasionally. But the people do not hesitate to let it be known that they just had to visit once again

to taste that barbeque and to recall wonderful memories of their past.