Sandra Murphy Lawrence

Sandy was born in Fort Stewart, Georgia on March 14, 1944 to John H. and Margaret Clay Murphy. Growing up she traveled the United States with her parents, settling down in Columbia, Mississippi where she attended high school and met her soul mate, Egbert E. Lawrence, Jr., known as Bert.

At an early age she developed a love for art. She attended Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi where she studied Fine Arts. She transferred to Mississippi State College for Women in Columbus and obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree.

She enjoyed a career as an art teacher and graphic artist, but her passions were oil painting and charcoal sketching. She shared her talent with family and friends where her creations adorn homes in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, England and Scotland. Her artistic talent led her to home interior design and landscaping, and she assisted many of her family and friends in these endeavors. She contributed to several periodicals with her expertise in design.

Sandy married Bert on December 20, 1963 in Columbus, Mississippi. She travelled the United States and Europe with Bert as he pursued a career as an officer in the United States Army. Her elder son, John, was born in 1969 at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia and her younger, Calvin, was born in 1972 at Land Stuhl Army Hospital in West Germany. During Bert’s military career she entertained and showed the whole world what a true southern lady she was. She met and continued to be in contact with many wonderful families over the years.

Upon Bert’s retirement, they returned to Mississippi. She assisted the builder in the design of their home in Madison, Mississippi, where they lived for the next 24 years. Upon moving to Madison, she worked as the birth registration specialist at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson until retirement age.

Since her retirement, Sandy and Bert enjoyed traveling and visiting the many friends they had made over the years. Two of the trips that she often talked about were the celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary in Scotland. While there she visited numerous castles and art museums. Her other favorite trip was a Columbia River Cruise which she shared with her daughters-in-law (Tanya and Liz) and her granddaughter, Cheyenne.

Sandy was preceded in death by her parents, John H. and Margaret Clay Murphy of Ridgeland, Mississippi. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Bert, her sons, John (Elizabeth) of El Paso, Texas and Calvin (Tanya) of Madison, Mississippi. Grandchildren are Seth and Cheyenne of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Others surviving are her sister Mary Clay Sturdivant (Bill) of Brandon, Mississippi, and nephews Troy (Kim) and Clint (Ashley).