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Obituary for Mary E. Murphy
A celebration of Mary's life will occur on
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Wood Funeral Home, Inc. 5537-39 West Girard Avenue Philadelphia, Pa. 19131
Viewing: 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. Service: 11:00 a.m.
Life Story
MARY E. MURPHY was born on April 12, 1927 in Little Mountain, South Carolina. She departed this life and went on to rest on Sunday, February 14, 2021. She was the only child born to Rebecca Counts and Morse Koon. She was blessed to have a loving sister, Thelma Wallace, born to her father Morse Koon. Her sister preceded her in death.
Mary was raised in Columbia, South Carolina. She completed her early years of schooling at Harvard School in Columbia. For many years, this was the only public school for Blacks. As a young teenager, her mother, Rebecca, relocated with her to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She attended William Penn High School for Girls from which she graduated. While living in Philadelphia, she met and married John C. Murphy in 1949. To this union was born two devoted daughters, Gwendolyn Carol and Valerie Janet.
As a young woman, Mary began her working career at Sears and Roebuck Company. She worked for them for several years. While raising her two girls, she made the decision to become a nurse. She attended nursing school and received her certificate as a Licensed Practical Nurse (L.P.N.). She joined the staff at Abington Memorial Hospital in 1973 and worked on Nursing Service 6H Medical Surgery. She worked there until she retired from Abington Memorial in 1992. She was a valued and respected part of the staff and truly enjoyed her profession. She received several Certificates of Achievement. She would proudly tell people that she was a nurse for twenty years and knew how to treat people.
Mary was devoted to her children and grandchildren and played an integral role in their growth and development. She enjoyed spending time with her family and was at every important life event. This love was not only shown to her immediate family, but to several of her daughters' long-time friends who affectionately called her Mom Mom Murphy. Some of Mary's hobbies included traveling and gardening. She had a " green thumb ". Mary took pride in her backyard vegetable garden on Arlington Street assisted by her godson, "Little".
Mary leaves to mourn her loss: aunt, Louella Faust (ninety-eight years young); daughters, Gwendolyn Carol Robinson and her husband, Herthy F. Robinson, and Valerie Murphy-Darden and her husband, Norman W. Darden); granddaughters, Jamila Robinson Leak (Jonathan D. Leak) and Norvasha Darden; grandsons, Jacque Garner (Keisha Mobley Garner), and Ahmad Robinson; great- granddaughters, Jada Mobley, Jurnee Garner, Aniyah Leak, and Ayla Leak; godson Milton Curtis; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, loving friends and neighbors.
