Creator Record
Metadata
Name |
Rev. Jimmy Morrow |
Other names |
Reverend Jimmy Morrow Jimmy Morrow J.M. Pastor James 'Jimmy' Edward Morrow |
Dates & places of birth and death |
b. March 6, 1955 - Raven Branch, Del Rio, Cocke County, Tennessee d. January 24, 2023 (age 67) |
Nationality |
American |
Occupation |
Reverend James "Jimmy" Morrow was an American Signs Following preacher, serpent-handler, and folk artist. Jimmy Morrow was born March 6, 1955 in Raven Branch, a population area in rural Del Rio, Tennessee. His father, Albert Morrow, is remembered as a very devout man who raised his seven children in the church, and young Jimmy Morrow began preaching there when he was just six years old, soon after he received his first vision. Throughout his career, in which the Rev. Morrow is remembered as the founder and pastor of the Edwina Church of God in Jesus Christ's Name, Morrow also preached at churches in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Kentucky. Alongside his work as a spiritual leader, Morrow compiled genealogies, collected photos, and documented local histories by hand, amassing one of the largest collections of information on Appalachian religious serpent handling in the world. At the time of his passing on January 24, 2023, the Rev. Morrow had become known internationally for his strong faith and religious practices, as well as for his Appalachian folk art, and has been featured in documentary films, book publications, podcasts, and numerous articles. Reverend Jimmy Morrow is remembered as a kind man who never met a stranger, a wise community member who generously shared his knowledge and cared for his neighbors, and an impassioned self-taught artist who painted, made kudzu baskets, constructed dolls and stuffed figures, and built snake boxes to transport his wild-caught serpents. Reverend Morrow's widow, Pam Morrow, explained that Jimmy created his artworks, primarily paintings, from spiritual visions and messages from God. He would not paint while seated or standing, he only painted on his knees, on the concrete porch of his home in Del Rio, Tennessee. The artworks in this collection (2023.012) were acquired from Jimmy's church and storage building at the Edwina Church of God in Jesus Christ's Name in Newport, Tennessee. Pam showed us that Jimmy founded that church in 1993, building upon land that was in their families. Jimmy had been preaching and painting prior to 1993, but 1993-2023 is the period in which he was active within the Edwina community. |
Notes |
https://www.newportplaintalk.com/news/article_c2fd4b10-9e5b-11ed-996a-c3f9079b8cb3.html https://fredscruton.com/folios/jimmy-morrow-1/ https://www.cmbrownfuneralhome.com/obituaries/James-Morrow-17/#!/Obituary Video of him telling a story alongside one of his paintings, c. 2015: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vI9NII61hg |
Publications |
featured guest, Around the World in 80 Faiths (British Television Series), 2009 featured guest, Heaven Come Down (documentary), 2006 featured guest, Preach the Word, Preacher Man! (podcast by Alabama Astronaut) Co-Author/Contributor, Handling Serpents: Pastor Jimmy Morrow's Narrative History of His Appalachian Jesus' Name Tradition (book) |
Relationships |
wife: Pamela G. Ford Morrow (married c. 1974) |
Places of residence |
Del Rio, Tennessee Newport, Tennessee Cocke County, Tennessee |
Role |
Artist |
Education |
self-taught |
Related Records
-
2023.012.001 - Basket
Kudzu basket handcrafted by the late Reverend Jimmy Morrow of Cocke County, Tennessee. This basket is circular in shape and does not feature a handle. The dried kudzu is a dark green-brown hue. According to Jimmy's wife, Jimmy learned how to make these baskets "from mountain people."
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.002 - Basket
This kudzu basket was handcrafted by the late Reverend Jimmy Morrow of Cocke County, Tennessee. This basket is circular in shape and features a singular curved handle. The dried kudzu is a dark green-brown hue. According to Jimmy's wife, Mrs. Pamela Morrow, Jimmy learned how to make these baskets "from mountain people."
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.003 - Painting
This folk art painting features the story of a woman named Bertha in "Naillon Tenasee" in 1899. The narrative text reads: "Appalachian Historical Folk Art Painting Bertha Gergory why sitting on the porch churning butter milk in a churn frogs come out from the porch Bertha had sore on her leg and flys was on the sore and the frogs shot their tongue in the sore on Bertha leg to catch the flys and the porison from frogs tongue...
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.004 - Painting
This folk art painting features the story of a woman named Sarah Ann Morrow in Cocke County, Tennessee. The narrative text reads: "As the dogs was fighting the bear under the floor of the cabin the bear tore loose the planks from the cabin floor Sarah Ann Morrow got the ax behind the wood stove kill the bear." The central image of the painting is a woman with long black hair using an ax to bludgeon a black bear. This scene is occ...
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.005 - Painting
This folk art painting features "a religious ceremony for the dead, Pueblo or Hopi Indians." There are two distinct images featured in this artwork. In the foreground, an indigenous person is kneeling on the ground next to a brown object. The object appears to be a mound of dirt, or maybe a headstone. The kneeling person has long, black hair. They are wearing a yellow band around their forehead with a black and white feather positioned upright...
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.006 - Painting
This folk art painting features the story of a woman named Sally Moore in Cocke County, Tennessee in 1847. The narrative text reads: "Cocke County Tennessee Folk-Art Folk-Lore 1847 The Old Mountain Settlement of Naillon Sally Moore during the night got up was warming her self by the fire in the fire place and was bit by rattlesnake." The central image of this painting features a woman with long, black hair standing with he...
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.007 - Painting
This folk art painting depicts Reverend Morrow's interpretation of the folklore of "sin eaters." Sin eaters are described as a person who consumes a ritual meal to take on the sins of a deceased person. The food consumed-often bread, in Appalachia-was believed to absorb the sins of a recently deceased person, thus absolving their soul. Sin eaters, as a consequence, carried the sins of all people whose sins they consumed. Thus, they were usually f...
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.008 - Painting
This folk art painting features the story of Liston Pack, a man who was arrested for serpent handling. The narrative text of the painting reads: "History and Historical Folk-Lore Folk-Art Painting Liston Pack jail for his religion Mark 16:15-20 handling serpents and jail in the Cocke County court house." This painting is relatively unique in that the Reverend only created a handful of paintings on smoothed, arched wood. The vas...
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.009 - Painting
This folk art painting depicts a spiritual vision of the Biblical "Judgment Day." This large painting features excerpts of multiple Bible verses that influence scenes within the work. On the far left amidst a clear blue sky, the text of Ecclesiastes 5:15 is painted in white: "as he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he made carry away in his hand." An asymmetr...
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.010 - Painting
This folk art painting depicts a mixture of peoples expressing their religious beliefs next to a body of water. At the top of the painting, amidst a clear blue sky, "Go ye in to the world preach the Gospel. good news. Mark 16." is painted in black. Below this text, there are three groupings of people partaking in spiritual activities, each with narrative text that contextualizes the images. From left to right: On the leftmost portion of the pa...
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.011 - Painting
This folk art painting depicts a man named Henry Tinker as he is praying for and/or handling a rattlesnake. Henry is the central image. He has short black hair and is smiling. He is wearing a white, long-sleeved shirt with a black banner that reads "Jesus Name" on top of the undershirt. He is also wearing blue and/or denim pants and black boots with white laces. His arms are outstretched to the left, making contact with a large yellow rattlesnake...
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.012 - Doll
This soft sculpture was handmade by Reverend Jimmy Morrow. It appears to either be a self-portrait of sorts, or possibly a historic representation of banner-wearing, serpent-handling Christians in the Appalachian region, which is a common motif in the artworks of Reverend Morrow. The body of the doll seems to be primarily made by wire, which is not visible to the viewer. The doll is fully clothed and detailed with paint. Starting from the top,...
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.013 - Box
This hand-painted serpent box was crafted by the Reverend Jimmy Morrow. Serpent boxes like these were used to house and transport serpents to the homes and churches of serpent-handlers. The box is painted a blue-gray hue on all sides. The top of the box is divided into two portions: one of which is a hinged and lockable lid to access the serpent, and the other features a mesh barrier so that the serpent can be seen and can access fresh air. A...
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.014 - Doll
This soft sculpture was handmade by Reverend Jimmy Morrow in Cocke County, Tennessee. It represents the kinds of venomous serpents that the Reverend handled as part of his signs following religious practices. However, it should be noted that, oftentimes, Rev. Morrow handled copperheads, not rattlesnakes. Dr. Ralph Hood, a religious psychology scholar and friend of Jimmy Morrow, recalls: "He kept serpents…he could keep them in habitats on his p...
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.015 - Painting
This folk art painting depicts two religious practices that are occurring simultaneously. To the left, one man is handling two serpents on land. He has short brown/gray hair and is smiling. He wears a long-sleeved white shirt, brown trousers with a black belt, and black boots. He is holding one serpent in each hand, and both arms are raised upward. Both of the serpents are black with yellow arrow markings. A brown cabin labelled "Church of God" i...
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.016 - Painting
This folk art painting depicts a dark-skinned person with white hair, red oval lips, oval brown eyes, and white nails. The figure is wearing a purple shirt. The figure is holding a black and white striped serpent in the air above their head with both hands. "Acts 10:34 God is no respecter of persons" is painted in white below the central figure. The background is gray behind the figure. The painting is signed "JM" in white paint on the ri...
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.017 - Painting
This folk art painting depicts a woman named Polly. She has long black hair, blue eyes, red, lips, spindly limbs, and is standing with her head tilted to one side (viewer's right). She is wearing a long blue dress with black strapped shoes, and her right hand is positioned on her right hip (viewer's left). She is sprinkling "mill" onto the ground with her left hand. There is a gray-brown snail with a smiling, human-like face and white markings po...
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.018 - Painting
This folk art painting depicts a man with black hair and a full beard, blue eyes, red lips, black boots, and a blue, full-body jumpsuit. The man is holding a double bit axe that is lodged in the back of a large yellow and black serpent. "During the colonies as Jacob Naillon was cutting trees huge rattlesnake crawl off the mountain into the Naillon settlement Jacob hit the rattlesnake in end of its tail with his double bit axe" / "The rattlesn...
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.019 - Painting
This folk art painting has three visible sections that each depict religious scenes and symbols. The first section is painted on a dark blue and green background with yellow lighting bolts in the sky. This section depicts a man with a white/gray beard and hair, brown eyes, and red lips. He is wearing a white robe. The man is holding a gray stone tablet with the words "Ten Commandments of Jesus" painted in white on it. "Deoteronomy 5:22. Jesus ...
Record Type: Object
-
2023.012.020 - Banner
This banner was painted by the Reverend Jimmy Morrow of Cocke County, Tennessee, for his friend: documentarian, artist, and scholar Dr. Rick Cary. Dr. Cary donated this banner to the Reece Museum's collection of Jimmy Morrow artworks during the museum's Community History Harvest on Saturday, November 15, 2025. Jimmy Morrow wore banners such as this one during his religious practices as a Signs Follower and serpent handler. Reverend Morrow's b...
Record Type: Object
