Sarah Conyers Murphy

Sarah Elizabeth Conyers Murphy, of Columbia, SC., entered into eternal rest on July 21, 2020. The daughter of Marion James Conyers and Elizabeth Baker Conyers Doar, Sarah was born in Florence, South Carolina, February 20, 1945. She is survived by and was the loving wife of James Marshall Murphy. She is survived by two sons whom she adored, Jay Murphy (Joan Teague Murphy), of Alpharetta, Georgia, and David Murphy of Chesapeake, Virginia. She is also survived by her four wonderful grandchildren, Jennifer (Zach) Murphy Dyga, Jared Murphy, Morgan Murphy, and Emily Murphy, as well as nieces and nephews who always held a special place in her heart and cousins who were very dear to her. Surviving are also cousins who were very dear to her. A special acknowledgement is made for the love of Joan Teague Murphy, who held a special place in her heart.

She was predeceased by her parents; her brother, Marion James Conyers, Jr., and her sister, Mary Ruth Conyers Cole.

The delight of her life was her family. Marshall was her stronghold and love of her life. In her opinion there were no finer sons in this world than Jay and David. She loved them with all her heart and they were the light of her life. She was very proud of the men they have become and what they continue to do with their lives each day. Her grandchildren were the icing on the cake for her and the twinkle in her eyes. She was very proud of their accomplishments and how they have matured into awesome young adults. She treasured the weeks in the summer they spent with their Granddaddy aka Pop, and her, as well as many other times with them. All those happy times with them over the years were a very large part of her heart. Each memory was treasured.

She graduated from McClenaghan High School, Florence, SC and Palmer College, Charleston SC. She was a former member of First Presbyterian Church, Florence, SC from birth until she moved to Charleston where she was a member of James Island Presbyterian Church.

Although she considered her life career to be that of wife, mother and grandmother, she served as Executive Secretary to the Academic Dean at The Citadel; and after a sabbatical at home with her children, she served as church secretary at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC where she and her family were members for many years. She retired as Executive Assistant to the South Carolina President of BellSouth (AT&T) in May 2000, in Columbia, SC.

While in Columbia, Sarah served as Secretary at St. Andrews Swim and Racquet Club, Officer of the Women of the Church at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Co-director of Vacation Church School at Westminster and Den Mother for both of her children, and driver to many table tennis tournaments, tennis tournaments, baseball games, basketball games and practices for her boys and their friends. Although her duties as loving wife, mother and grandmother were first, Sarah served as co-chair of the Social Committee of the Aline Leitner Fellowship Sunday School Class, member and Chair of the Outreach Committee, and member of the Administrative Board of Union United Methodist Church, Irmo, SC, where she was a member. She enjoyed helping at the soup kitchen at Washington Street UMC, and while Chair of the Outreach Committee developed a plan to allow all Sunday School Classes and the Youth of Union to share in that rewarding experience. As Chair of the Outreach Committee, she was instrumental in developing a plan to insure all the church’s homebound members and homebound of members’ families received regular visits by Union church members. While Chair of the same committee, Sarah was also instrumental in developing the annual program at Union to provide new back to school shoes which were distributed by Sharing God’s Love for children in need. She was an active member of PEP at Union for many years as well as the United Methodist Women and the Rosa Hook Circle. Sarah was awarded The Special Missions Recognition by the SC Conference of the UMW and The Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church in 2006. She was also a volunteer at the Lexington County Library, where she was a volunteer in the Research Department and a leader in a group open to all nationalities to improve their speaking and learning of the English language.

Sarah loved her family deeply-and after her Lord, they were her first priority. She treasured her time with her husband, her children and her grandchildren. They all were her pride and joy.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2020 at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, Irmo.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Union United Methodist Church, PO Box 705, Irmo, SC 29063, or the memorial of your choice.