Mary Marie Williams Murray, aged 89, Pavo, Georgia, died on February 23, 2003 in Burlington, North Carolina. She was born in Ozell, Georgia, on March 13, 1913, daughter of Andrew Jackson Williams and Nena Elizabeth Holloway Williams. Her mother died when Marie was four years old; her stepmother was Mozelle Hobbs Williams.
She attended Valdosta State College now Valdosta State University and was a teacher of Math and Latin at Patten School early in her marriage.
In 1932, she married Walter Bassett Murray, Jr., who died in 1999. They were married for 66 years and lived all their married life in the same Victorian house on their farm near Pavo. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Mrs. Murray was a longtime member of Salem Baptist Church, having been baptized there while she was a college student. She was a Sunday School teacher, a leader of Girl's Auxiliary and Vacation Bible School. She was a member of Woman's Missionary Union and was the Thomas County Associational W.M.U. Superintendent for several years.
The Murray home was a center for entertaining revival preachers including the celebrated Gypsy Smith and his wife and missionaries and was open for meetings and social gatherings and Sunday night suppers for neighbors and church friends. It was the favorite gathering place for her daughters, and their friends and families. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren visited there as often as possible.
During World War II, the Murrays had prisioners of war from Germany, Austria and Italy work on their farm and then hosted them in their home where they prepared gifts and flowers and food for them. The men listened to music and enjoyed National Geographic magazines. One man, Kurt Horschelmann of Vienna, Austria, become a lifelong friend.
Mrs. Murray was a wonderful cook and hostess; hospitality was a natural characteristic. Her chicken pie was a popular dish for dinner-on-the-ground at church Homecomings. An avid gardener, she also loved arranging flowers and enjoyed crocheting, doing decoupage work, playing the piano and reading, which was a favored activity. She was a bird watcher, with particular love for bluebirds. All her life she was interested in current events and politics.
Mrs. Murray is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Beth Murray Walker and Marshall Walker of Nashville, Tennessee, and Mary Lee McNiel and Dr. Jesse McNiel of Burlington, North Carolina; by three granddaughters, Nena Walker Egli and Dr. Eric Egli of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Cynthia Marie McNiel of Burlington, North Carolina, and Rosemary NcNiel and her husband Andre Pierce of Durham, North Carolina; two grandsons, Murray McNiel of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Lee Walker of Marshall, North Carolina; and two great-grandsons, James Murray Pierce and Walter ''Walt'' Blythe Pierce of Durham, North Carolina. She is also survived by her sister, Martyle Williams Bryan of Pavo, Georgia; and nephew, Marvin Bryan; two great-nephews, a great-niece, and several great-great neices and nephews. Several cousins also survive as well as a lifetime friend, Melrose Clack Blanton of Maryville, Tennessee. Mrs. Murray was preceded in death by parents and step-mother, husband, and two brothers, Andrew Holloway Williams and James Jackson Williams.
A gracious and loving person, Mrs. Murray was a strong, positive influence on her family and many other people in her life.
A service celebrating her life will be held at Salem Baptist Church, Pavo, Georgia on Thursday, February 27, 2003 at 2:00PM; interment will be in Salem Cemetery. Arrangements are by Allen & Allen Funeral home. Visitation will be at the Murray home near Pavo, on Wednesday from 4:00PM to 6:00PM.
Memorial gifts may be made to Georgia Baptist Children's Home, 9420 Blackshear Highway, Baxley, Georgia 31513. Visitors may sign the online guest register at www.allenfh.com .
ALLEN & ALLEN FUNERAL HOME
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Marie Williams Murray, please visit our flower store.
She attended Valdosta State College now Valdosta State University and was a teacher of Math and Latin at Patten School early in her marriage.
In 1932, she married Walter Bassett Murray, Jr., who died in 1999. They were married for 66 years and lived all their married life in the same Victorian house on their farm near Pavo. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Mrs. Murray was a longtime member of Salem Baptist Church, having been baptized there while she was a college student. She was a Sunday School teacher, a leader of Girl's Auxiliary and Vacation Bible School. She was a member of Woman's Missionary Union and was the Thomas County Associational W.M.U. Superintendent for several years.
The Murray home was a center for entertaining revival preachers including the celebrated Gypsy Smith and his wife and missionaries and was open for meetings and social gatherings and Sunday night suppers for neighbors and church friends. It was the favorite gathering place for her daughters, and their friends and families. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren visited there as often as possible.
During World War II, the Murrays had prisioners of war from Germany, Austria and Italy work on their farm and then hosted them in their home where they prepared gifts and flowers and food for them. The men listened to music and enjoyed National Geographic magazines. One man, Kurt Horschelmann of Vienna, Austria, become a lifelong friend.
Mrs. Murray was a wonderful cook and hostess; hospitality was a natural characteristic. Her chicken pie was a popular dish for dinner-on-the-ground at church Homecomings. An avid gardener, she also loved arranging flowers and enjoyed crocheting, doing decoupage work, playing the piano and reading, which was a favored activity. She was a bird watcher, with particular love for bluebirds. All her life she was interested in current events and politics.
Mrs. Murray is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Beth Murray Walker and Marshall Walker of Nashville, Tennessee, and Mary Lee McNiel and Dr. Jesse McNiel of Burlington, North Carolina; by three granddaughters, Nena Walker Egli and Dr. Eric Egli of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Cynthia Marie McNiel of Burlington, North Carolina, and Rosemary NcNiel and her husband Andre Pierce of Durham, North Carolina; two grandsons, Murray McNiel of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Lee Walker of Marshall, North Carolina; and two great-grandsons, James Murray Pierce and Walter ''Walt'' Blythe Pierce of Durham, North Carolina. She is also survived by her sister, Martyle Williams Bryan of Pavo, Georgia; and nephew, Marvin Bryan; two great-nephews, a great-niece, and several great-great neices and nephews. Several cousins also survive as well as a lifetime friend, Melrose Clack Blanton of Maryville, Tennessee. Mrs. Murray was preceded in death by parents and step-mother, husband, and two brothers, Andrew Holloway Williams and James Jackson Williams.
A gracious and loving person, Mrs. Murray was a strong, positive influence on her family and many other people in her life.
A service celebrating her life will be held at Salem Baptist Church, Pavo, Georgia on Thursday, February 27, 2003 at 2:00PM; interment will be in Salem Cemetery. Arrangements are by Allen & Allen Funeral home. Visitation will be at the Murray home near Pavo, on Wednesday from 4:00PM to 6:00PM.
Memorial gifts may be made to Georgia Baptist Children's Home, 9420 Blackshear Highway, Baxley, Georgia 31513. Visitors may sign the online guest register at www.allenfh.com .
ALLEN & ALLEN FUNERAL HOME
Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors