Esteemed Judge Dion Griffith Morrow recently passed away after a remarkable career as a practicing attorney, special counsel, Municipal Court judge and Superior Court judge. He was 92 years old.
A celebration of his life will take place on Monday, Nov. 25, at 1 p.m., at Inglewood Park Cemetery, 720 Florence Avenue in Inglewood.
A native of Los Angeles, Judge Morrow was born July 9, 1932, in the Dunbar Lying In Hospital on Central Avenue. Dion was the first son of Virgil McClellan Morrow and Anna Griffith Morrow, and the first grandchild of Dr. Thomas Lee Griffith and his wife, Carrie Thomas Griffith.
Dion’s birth had some significance in the African American community of Los Angeles because Dr. Griffith was the pastor and builder of the Second Baptist Church, then the largest congregation of Black Christians in the western US.
Dion was educated in the public schools of Los Angeles, including 28th Street School, John Adams Junior High School, and Francis Polytechnic High School – from which he graduated in June of 1950. He then attended Los Angeles City College and George Pepperdine College in South Los Angeles.
He excelled in Speech and Debate programs, winning numerous awards – including the 1st History Week Oratorical contest in 1950. Dion graduated from Loyola law school in June of 1957.
After being admitted to the California State Bar in December of 1957, Dion practiced law as a private attorney. While in private practice, Dion was very active in the community and was a founder and lawyer for Enterprise Savings and Loan Association in Compton, CA.
In October 1973, Dion joined the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office as a Senior Special Counsel and Senior Assistant to City Attorney Burt Pines. In October 1975, California Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr appointed Dion to the Municipal Court in Compton. Dion was elevated to the Los Angeles Superior Court in February of 1978, where he served with distinction until his retirement on November 1, 1995.
Following his retirement, Dion was appointed by Congressman Julian Dixon to a federal commission to study Foreign Assets and Forfeitures. Dion served as a private judge. He heard arbitrations and mediations, and acted as a special master in civil litigation.
Dion was the organizer of the John M. Langston Bar Association in Los Angeles. He was the group’s second president. Dion was also on the board of directors of Mercantile National Bank and was the chairman of that board until he left the bank in 2007.
During his judicial career, Dion was a member of the National Bar Association and was very active as a judge and member of the California Judges Association. He attended the National Judicial College where he also lectured. He was a team leader at California Judicial College.
He also participated in numerous programs and seminars as part of the educational program for judges and lawyers in California. He was a member of the Cosmos Men’s Social Club of Los Angeles, and a connecting link in the Los Angeles chapter of the Links Inc.
Dion was married to Lydia Johnson by whom he had five children. Following the end of that marriage, he met and was married to Glynis Dejan – mother of two.
Dion and Glynis traveled extensively after his retirement. They visited the continent of Africa, Thailand, Europe, as well as many trips to Mexico and various locations in the United States. Dion and Glynis remained married for more than 54 years.
Dion is preceded by his parents Virgil and Anna, his brother Virgil, and his daughter Lori. Dion is survived by his wife Glynis, their children Jan Bell, Kimberly Wade, Cydney Morrow, Carla Cavalier, Mel Cavalier and his partner David Shannon, Dion Morrow Jr. and his wife Tricia Morrow.
He is also survived by his grandchildren, Ivan Emile Bell, Rhea Bell, Sean Paul Cavalier, and Aaron Ziebell; sister-in-law, Debbie Starkey; Alanis Cavalier Bowdoin, Dashiell Morrow, and Macy Morrow; six great-grandchildren, nephews, Brian Morrow, David Morrow, Brandon Starkey, and Eric Starkey; niece, Stephanie Starkey; and a host of extended family.
