Morris Daniels is looking forward to his next motorcycle rodeo.
Until recently, Daniels and fellow members of the Cobras Motorcycle Club would meet regularly to hold motorcycle rodeos on an open field by a lake along U.S. 49 South. There, members would watch each other drive motorcycles.
“It’s fun,” said Daniels, who doesn’t have a motorcycle himself but has been allowed to borrow one. “Everybody’s so free-hearted.”
There’s more to the club than just driving around in an open field, however.
“You get a chance to go state to state. It’s fun,” Daniels said.
A member of the club for four years now, Daniels has visited cities such as Atlanta, Chicago and Kansas City with the club.
In each town they’d ride around, take pictures and enjoy the local barbecue.
But it’s going to be a while until he can take part in such an event, for two reasons.
First, with the current COVID-19 pandemic, non-essential social gatherings of more than 10 have been prohibited across the state.
Second, Daniels was involved in a severe car accident in January.
According to Daniels, a driver ran a red light at the intersection of Bowie Lane and U.S. 82 in Greenwood. Daniels said that when his car was hit, it flipped over into the parking lot by McDonald’s.
Daniels said he was airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Jackson, where he stayed for one week. He then spent two weeks recuperating at his home in Itta Bena.
He suffered several injuries, including some broken ribs and a punctured lung, and is still recovering.
Prior to his accident, Daniels had been running his own lawn-mowing business, Morris D. Lawn Services.
“I love it because the money’s good,” Daniels said, who mowed lawns in Greenwood, Carrollton and the surrounding areas.
Daniels, 53, has spent his whole life in Itta Bena. He graduated from Leflore County High School.
His three sisters and one brother all live in Natchez, having moved there after they each completed college, Daniels said. He instead stayed home to care for his mother and father, who have both since died.
Daniels has one son, 29-year-old Morris Ward.
One thing Daniels enjoys about his home is going to the motorcycle rodeo.
“It’s nice out there, man,” Daniels said of where the club meets. “Whenever they lift up this coronavirus stuff, they’ll be back out riding.”
•Contact Gerard Edic at 581-7239 or gedic@gwcommonwealth.com.
