She graduated from Alabama State College, and earned a master's degree in social work at Atlanta University.

[3] In 1965 she joined the social work staff at the Veterans' Administration (VA) offices in Washington, D.C. She was named chief of Community Services, then chief of Rehabilitation and Staff Development in the VA's Spinal Cord Injury Service,[4] and manager of the Washington, D.C. regional office.

[6] Morgan won the Federal Woman's Award in 1971,[7] "for her outstanding and original work in developing the social and emotional aspects of the care and treatment of veteran patients and their families.

Morgan was recognized as a national authority on community services and rehabilitation for veterans with spinal cord injuries.

[15] Essie Davis married World War II veteran William Spencer Morgan in 1949.