Kindness Begets Kindness

As many of you know, the city of Jacksonville, Alabama was hit with a devastating tornado on March 19. Jacksonville resident Joseph Scott Morgan  was among those who lost everything, including his home. Like so many others in Jacksonville, he and his family are struggling just to find shelter, a hot shower, and even things as basic as a cup of coffee. Things which most of us take for granted, but which are now precious resources that are difficult to find in Jacksonville. 


Those of us who are blessed to know Joseph are heartbroken at what he,  his wife Kim, and their son Noah are going through. We know he is a gentle, humble man, who has already suffered a great deal of pain in his life. Yet somehow, he has not only soldiered through, but amazingly, become even more gentle and humble in the process.


One of Joseph’s favorite sayings is, “Kindness begets kindness.” He and his wonderful family have shown the world kindness on a multitude of levels. Now, we are asking the world to show kindness to him in return.  The Morgan family needs our help to meet their immediate needs, and to start on the road to recovery. In a recent conversation, Joseph told me that "The darker it is today, the brighter it will be tomorrow." Today is very dark for his family, but with our help, the future will be bright. 


For those who don’t know his backstory, Joseph is a former medicolegal death investigator. In his book, “Blood Beneath My Feet: The Journey of a Southern Death Investigator,” Joseph details the grim scenes he witnessed as a death investigator in New Orleans and Atlanta. Years of dealing with these horrors took an immense emotional toll, and Joseph eventually was  forced to leave his job after being diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Shortly after losing his job, he and his wife Kim suffered another deeply personal loss which left them devastated.


Joseph pulled himself out of the abyss, and went on to a career in academics. He has taught at the University of North Georgia, and is now mentoring a new generation of criminologists and forensic investigators at Jacksonville State University, where he is a Distinguished Scholar of Applied Forensics. No one could be better suited for the task. Aside from his consummate expertise in the field, Joseph gives his students the benefit of his real life experiences to help them prepare for the unspeakably tragic and stressful situations they will face. As he often says, “Mine is a cautionary tale.”


Joseph is well known for his appearances on Nancy’s Grace’s “Crime Online” and her TV show, “Nancy Grace,” as well as CNN, HLN, and the Law and Crime Network, among many others. With his incredible background in forensics, and his deep understanding of human nature, his insights into criminal cases are both thoughtful and thought provoking. He doesn’t take advantage of the limelight for personal glory. True to his nature, he always presents his observations respectfully and humbly.


Because he is so self-effacing, Joseph would never approach others for financial help in his current situation. It’s up to us to step forward and give him that help, which he so richly deserves in this time of need. Any amount you can give will be deeply appreciated. This is the perfect opportunity to validate Joseph’s keen observation, that “Kindness begets kindness.” Please look into your hearts, see the truth in that, and help make it a reality for Joseph and his family.


From all the family and friends of the Morgan family, we thank you deeply and with the humbleness that Jospeh shares with the world every day.