Shelba Jean Murphy

Shelba joined First Baptist Church – Gainsboro, Roanoke, Virginia at an early age and when she moved to Alexandria, Virginia, she joined the Alfred Street Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia. She was so thankful for the church live streaming its services because when traveling and/or unable to attend, she was able to connect to her church community.

Shelba grew up in Roanoke, Virginia and attended Roanoke City Public Schools, graduating from Lucy Addison High School, Class 1965 from which many friends remain.

Shelba received her bachelor’s degree in education from Hampton University in 1969. She stayed to obtain a master’s degree in education from Hampton University in 1971. After graduating from college, Shelba worked and taught in the Roanoke City School System at Jefferson High School for several years as a special education teacher. She later relocated to Manassas, Virginia, where she moved into school administration, working with the Special Education Department in the Manassas School System. Because Shelba wanted to be closer to her sister, she left that position and moved to Alexandria, Virginia.

She worked at the Morgan and Chevees Insurance Agency, Alexandria, Virginia and would later go to work for American Intellectual Property Association (AIPLA), in the Membership Department, assisting with managing the company’s 14,000 membership databank. She retired in 2018.

For years she volunteered and worked with the ARC of Northern Virginia (Association for Retarded Citizens), advocating, and lobbying for education inclusions, community services, employment support and housing benefits for people with disabilities.

Her surviving siblings are her twin sister, Sylvia Murphy Leathers Coleman (Gary), Falls Church VA, brother, Henry E Murphy (Brenda) Sacramento, CA, sister, Eleanor Rebecca Banks, Alexandria, VA and brother, Benjamin Murphy, Roanoke, VA. Her sister, Anita Louise Murphy, and her favorite nephew, Aaron Vincent Leathers, Jr. preceded her in death in 2021.

She leaves to mourn her passing several nieces and nephews, Heather Murphy, Dallas, TX, Amber Murphy, Sacramento, CA, Freya Zsombory (Tibor), St. Petersburg, FL, Kayla Murphy, Roanoke, VA and nephews, Paul Banks, Jr., and Peyton Banks, Alexandria, VA.

A visitation for Shelba will be held Thursday, November 14, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Murphy Funeral Home, 1102 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046. A celebration of life will occur Thursday, November 14, 2024 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM, 1102 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046. A graveside service will occur Tuesday, November 19, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Fair View Cemetery, 3300 Melrose Ave NW, Roanoke, VA 24017.

Condolences may be sent to www.murphyfuneralhomes.com