Obituary of Martha Kirby Murphree

OBITUARY Funeral services for Martha Kirby Murphree, age 73, of Wedowee, will be 11:00 am, Saturday, March 23, 2013, from the First United Methodist Church of Wedowee with Rev. Russell Hesley, Rev. Gary Henderson, and Rev. Jon Tal Murphree officiating. Burial will follow in the Wedowee City Cemetery with Benefield Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, on Friday, March 22nd. Pallbearers will be her nephews. Mrs. Murphree died Thursday, March 21, 2013 at her home. Martha Kirby Murphree was born to the late Jadie Austin Kirby and Mildred Green Kirby of the Rock Stand community. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Mildred Ann Kirby. Survivors include her husband, Wallace Murphree of Wedowee; one son, Scott Murphree of Asheville, NC; one daughter, Kate Baumann of Pensacola, FL; five grandchildren; two special great-grandchildren; and four special great-great-grandchildren. In addition, she is survived by three sisters, namely, Frances Bailey of Heflin, Joyce Prince (and husband Bill) of Roanoke, and Betty Moon of Roanoke; one brother, Austin Kirby (and wife Jane) of LaGrange, GA; and several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. Although she was a licensed and experienced social worker, in her later years Martha was a student advisor at Mississippi State University where her husband was a professor. She retired in 2000, and in 2001 they moved back home to Randolph County where they spent ten happy years before Martha became ill. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to First United Methodist Church (P O Box 151, Wedowee, AL 36278) or SIFAT (2944 County Road 113, Lineville, AL 36266). Online condolences may be expressed at www.benefieldfhwedowee.com.