[3] Born in Memphis, Tennessee on October 11, 1940,[4] Morgan began her career at the Ocala Star Banner in 1965,[4] and moved to the St. Petersburg Times in 1968.

While working full-time as a reporter, she attended Pasco-Hernando State College and received her associate degree.

[6] In 1982 she was a Pulitzer finalist for her investigation of drug trafficking in north central Florida counties.

[5][7] She became Capital Bureau chief in Tallahassee in 1986 and later worked on special projects and as a columnist.

[9][12] Morgan's investigation into a $49.6 million mortgage fraud/Ponzi scheme in Glenville, North Carolina (where she was retired) by the Miami developer Domenico Rabuffo — while he was in the United States Federal Witness Protection Program[13] — was the subject of the American Greed episode "Goodfella Gone Bad".