Willa Mae Murphy

Willa Mae was born in Good Hope, West Virginia and graduated from Unidis High School, in West Milford, WVA. She married her high school sweetheart, Charles in 1950. When her children were young, she was an avid bowler and loved to play softball and served as a Girl Scout Leader, and taught vacation bible school for many years. Willa Mae was a long-time member of Pittman Park United Methodist Church and served on many committees and held multiple offices within the Women’s Circle at the church. Mrs. Murphy enjoyed doing cross-stitch, needle point, crocheting, toll painting and was an avid reader and Braves Baseball fan. She and her husband Charles were members of the Wonderers Camping Club of Statesboro for many years and traveled with their children to many campgrounds and camping sites throughout the Southeastern United States. Of all of Willa Mae’s hobbies and interests, the thing she enjoyed the most was spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Willa Mae was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Charles D. Murphy, son, Terry Murphy and grandson, Bryan Charles Young.

Mrs. Murphy is survived by her children, Karen Tanksley and her husband, Steve of Stilson; Charles R. Murphy and his wife, Linda of Statesboro; Brenda Toledo of Jacksonville, FL; Pamela Young of Cooper City, FL and Kevin Murphy and his wife, Lesly of Statesboro; brother, Robert Steele and his wife, Kathryn of Mechanicsburg, PA; daughter-in-law, Julie Murphy of Statesboro; 16 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

A gathering of family and friends will be held 5:00 to 7:00 PM Sunday, July 9, 2017 in Hodges-Moore Funeral Home.

The funeral service will be held 11:00 AM Monday, July 10, 2017 in Pittman Park United Methodist Church with Reverend Bill Bagwell officiating.

The burial will follow in Bulloch Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Kevin Murphy, Jr, Bryan Murphy, Alex Murphy, David Castro, Jeremy Warren and Lane Tanksley.

Please visit our online memorial at www.hodgesmoore.com to sign the guest book and share fond memories with the Murphy family.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pittman Park United Methodist Church, 1102 Fair Road, Statesboro, GA 30458 or Ogeechee Area Hospice, P.O. Box 531, Statesboro, GA 30459.

Hodges-Moore Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.