Miriam McCormick Murphy Lacy

Miriam McCormick Murphy Lacy, 86, was received into the loving arms of Jesus on October 12, 2015. Mim was the youngest and last surviving of 9 children born to Beaches pioneer B.B. McCormick Sr. and Maude Oesterreicher McCormick. Her birth took place at the family homestead in Jacksonville Beach (where McDonald's sits) in the middle of a hurricane assisted by the St. Vincent's Daughters of Charity on September 18, 1929.

Miriam attended Jax Beach Elementary School grades 1-6 and graduated Fletcher High School, class of '47 where's she was DDD President and editor of the Fletcher Senator yearbook. She attended college at Chevy Chase in Washington, D.C. and upon returning to the Beaches, was elected President of the Junior Women's' Club, as their first unmarried officer.

Mim married G. Lawrence Murphy Jr. (deceased) in 1952. She converted to Catholicism and chaired several Catholic charities in the cities of D.C. and Akron, Ohio. Miriam was pursued by and as a result was frequently featured in The Washington Post and Akron Beacon Journal to share her culinary gifts, creativity in entertaining and vast knowledge of everything "etiquette".

In 1987, Mim met D. Cameron Lacy, Jr. as she parlayed her fashion expertise at La Tierra Clothiers in Jacksonville Beach. They married on Thanksgiving Day in 1988 and took great delight in opening the doors to their home on LeMaster Drive where exceptional foods, great wine, abundant laughter, memorable holidays and birthdays were orchestrated like only Miriam could.

Mim is survived by her husband of 27 years, Cam, daughter Abby Murphy Myers, sons Geordy Murphy (Nancy), Shaun Murphy (Emily) and daughter Nora Murphy Bequette (Mike). She leaves to follow 10 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren who all knew from their first breaths that their "Mim" loved them dearly. She is pre deceased by her parents, 8 siblings, a grand-daughter and son-in-law.

All who had the privilege of sharing a meal, conversation, laugh and glass of wine with Mim were keenly aware that they were in the presence of an extremely intelligent, talented and selfless woman whose greatest pleasure was to make others happy. Sharing God's word of hope and the promise of Eternal Life were her purpose. She was a teacher of many skills and concepts and her contagious and infectious zest for life and people left an indelible impression on each heart she touched. Christ was her rock and she, in turn, was a "rock" to many.

A home-going and memorial service will be held in her honor at HARDAGE-GIDDENS FUNERAL HOME in Jacksonville Beach on Thursday, October 15, at 4:00 p m. with Dr. David Woodard as Pastor and Celebrant.

A private interment will follow at a later date at the McCormick Family Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Mim humbly requested that we all share our time, talents and treasures with those whom you may meet in need.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to all of those at Regent’s Park who cared for Miriam, a place she considered home. Special recognition is also made of the staff at St. Vincent’s Southside who provided care during the last hours of her life.