Janella Southerland Murphy

Janella Southerland Murphy of Thomasville, Georgia was called home to the Lord on July 20, 2023 at the age of 80.

Janella was born to Alma and Isaac Southerland in Moultrie, Georgia and raised in Thomasville. She graduated from Thomasville High School in 1960 and met her beloved husband of 51 years, while attending college in Jacksonville, Florida. A proud navy family, Janella and Murph raised their three daughters, Lorry, Kathryn, and Andrea, while stationed in Washington state, the Florida Keys, and Virginia Beach before returning home to Thomasville. A lifelong learner, Janella earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Valdosta State University at the age of 50. Janella was the proud grandmother of seven, an absolutely smitten great-grandmother of one, and spent her golden years and final days on this earth surrounded by her family.

Janella was an avid Georgia Bulldog fan, Republican, and reigning queen of Jeopardy and Scrabble. Her family will miss hearing her at the piano, her encyclopedic knowledge of family history and current events, and her mastery of a canasta game. She is cherished by many and will be most fondly remembered for her unrelenting faith, commitment to her family, and her supreme generosity.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Harry E. Murphy, and her daughter, Kathryn M. Chastain. She is survived by her daughters, Lorry R. Day (Eric) and Andrea M. Skaling (Darryl), grandchildren Anna Day, Meagan McDonald (Rick), Kayla Miller (Matt), Daniel Day, Riley Singletary, Shea Singletary, and Ian Singletary, and the apple of her eye, great-granddaughter, Kathryn Miller.

Visitation will be held at Allen and Allen Funeral Home on Sunday, July 23rd from 2:00PM - 4:00PM. A celebration of her life will be held at Dawson Street Baptist Church on Monday, July 24th at 9:00am followed by graveside services at Laurel Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the nursing scholarship program at Archbold Medical Center.