Betty Ruth Murphy, 74, passed away Saturday, July 22, 2017, at the Rainey Hospice House.
Born in Anderson, she was the daughter of the late Rev. William Crate and Bertha Hatcher Murphy. She was a graduate of Stephens County High School in Toccoa, Ga. She attended the Medical Secretarial School at Greenville General Hospital. She also graduated from Anderson College and Tennessee Temple College. After her first job at Anderson Memorial Hospital, she worked in several hospitals, including as an administrative assistant to Administrator at Georgia Baptist Hospital in Atlanta. In the mid-sixties, Betty began working in churches including First Baptist Church, Hapeville, Ga. and Rosewood Baptist Church in Columbia, SC. After graduating from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, she served as Minister in Education and Associate Minister at First Baptist Church, Independence, Missouri for 24 years. In retirement, she returned to Anderson and served in various positions with Hospice of the Upstate. Betty enjoyed traveling with friends and taking mission trips. Her mission trips included Belarus, Honduras and Katrina clean-up. She also enjoyed volunteering with Foothills Alliance. She was a member of Boulevard Baptist Church where she served as a Deacon and participated in local missions..
Survivors include her sister, Emily Murphy Wyatt and husband, Larry of Evans, GA; sister-in-law, Margaret Mitchell Murphy of Martin, GA; five nieces and nephews, Mitchell Murphy and wife, Lori, Michelle Murphy Ashworth and husband, Kelly, Micah Murphy and wife, Ashley, Amanda Wyatt Pope and husband, Nathan, and Jonathan Wyatt and wife, Kristin; 18 great-nieces and nephews
and a great-great niece and nephew.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, William Charles "Billy" Murphy.
A memorial service will be held at noon Friday at Boulevard Baptist Church conducted by Dr. Johnny F. McKinney and Dr. John Hughes. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until noon Friday at the church. Members of Companions in Christ at Boulevard Baptist Church and staff and caregivers at Hospice of the Upstate will serve as Honorary Escort.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Boulevard Baptist Church, 700 Boulevard, Anderson, SC 29621 or Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621.
Sullivan-King Mortuary
Announcement courtesy of Strickland Funeral Home of Lavonia