Patricia Murphy Clark

Patricia Ann Murphy-Clark, lovingly known as Pat, was born on December 13, 1945, the first of four children to Bernice Elizabeth Scott. She grew up in The Bronx and attended college at Nassau Community College and Adelphi University. Through her first marriage, she was blessed with three children; Simone, Spencer and Theresa. She subsequently married her soul mate, Lawrence K. Clark, on March 28, 1980 and together they had an additional blessing, Tamara. Pat is preceded in death by her father, William Scott; mother, Bernice Scott; brother, William Scott; and sister, Paulette Sims.

After a 20 year career with the New York City Board of Education, Pat and family relocated to Long Island, NY. Although retired, for her sitting at home was never an option. She took a job as an administrative assistant at Kellenberg Memorial High School, and was quickly promoted to the school's first African American Assistant Principal for Academics. Upon retiring from Kellenberg, yet again she kept herself busy by working part time at Bethlehem Lutheran Church where she made many lifelong friends.

On Long Island, she also joined the African Atlantic Genealogical Society (AAGS) in 1996 and served as Secretary, Treasurer and on its Board of Directors. Pat had a passion for studying lineage and ancestry. She enjoyed helping others find information regarding their family history. With over 15 years of experience as a genealogist, she has worked on transcribing Birth, Death, Marriage and Naturalization records in NYC.

After moving to Midlothian, Virginia in 2004, Pat also worked as an Arbitrator and Indexer on the Virginia Freeman's Bureau Records for The Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia and Familysearch.org. As a Professional Genealogist, she was a member of several major genealogical, historical or hereditary societies. Pat became a founding officer of the African American History and Genealogical Society of Greater Richmond, VA.

She has been married to Lawrence Clark for 34 years, and they were very proud of their family's growth and development. Pat and Larry have traveled the world visiting family and friends. They organized yearly family vacations for their children which brought everyone together from around the country for a week of family fun. They also blessed the grandchildren and great-grandchildren with their own personal vacation time with their grandparents.

Pat leaves to forever cherish in her beloved memory, husband, Lawrence; brother, Ronald Scott; brother-in-law, Thomas Sims; sister-in-law, Deborah Scott; sister-in-law, Cathy Scott; children, Simone (Chris) DeJean, Spencer Murphy, Theresa (Chris) Hill, Tamara (Brandon) Washington; nine grandchildren, Sasha Murphy, Samuel Murphy, Anthony Murphy, Nathaniel DeJean, Patricia DeJean, Alaysia Murphy, Troy Murphy, Kristiana Ho-Sang, Brandon Washington; two great-grandchildren, Dante Murphy, Traevon Curtis and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many dear friends. She also cherished a special relationship with her uncle, musician Clark Terry.

The family will receive friends Thursday, May 22, 2014, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p..m. at the Parham Chapel, Woody Funeral Home, 1771 N. Parham Rd., and where services will be held Friday, May 23 at 1 p.m. Interment to follow at Westhampton Memorial Park, 10000 Patterson Ave., with a repast immediately following at The Charter House, 1101 Charter Club Way, Midlothian, Va.