Colleen V. Murphy
February 17, 1928 — February 2, 2020
Colleen V. Murphy, 91 passed away February 2, 2020; her children and her son-in-law Kevin Hood were at her side. She was born in White Springs, Florida February 17, 1928 to Horatio Marion Vaughn and Myrtle Sistrunk Vaughn. She was known for her firm belief in, and adoration of Jesus. She was a very humble, kind, selfless, and loving person.
Colleen spent much of her childhood in Detroit, Michigan where her Father worked in an automobile factory. Later, the family moved to Addison, Alabama to begin a life of farming. Subsequently her Father died and in spite of her Mother’s heroic efforts to keep the farm a bank foreclosed and the family moved to Birmingham. In due time, Colleen graduated from Ramsay High School.
While working in a Chiropractic office in the building occupied by the Lyric Theater, Colleen met her first husband, Theodore Roy Smith. The Smith family bought a home on Pine Street, Bessemer where they raised their 3 children, all of whom attended McAdory School. Her husband’s family owned Smith Grocery on 4th Avenue, Bessemer, Alabama and she worked there for a time. She also worked many years for McCain Uniform in downtown Birmingham.
After more than 25 years the Smiths divorced. Later Colleen married Hugh Murphy whom she met at church. They lived together in Caffey Junction, Alabama for more than another 25 years. After Hugh died Colleen’s health deteriorated to the point that she became a resident at Gwinnett Extended Care Center in Lawrenceville, Georgia where she lived the remainder of her life.
Colleen is preceded in death by her first Husband, Theodore Roy Smith and her second Husband Hugh Murphy, Sr.; siblings Eleanor (John) Vaughn Crawford of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Daniel (Jean) Vaughn of Remlap, AL; step-grandchild Rebecca Murphy; and great grandchild, Phoenix Olivia Hood.
Colleen is survived by her sister, Geraldine (Frank) Wegent; her 3 children, Ted (Patricia) Smith of Pelham, Alabama, Joel (Jelaine) Smith of Florala, Alabama, Edie (Kevin) Hood of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and step-child Hugh Murphy Jr. (Bo); nephew Arthur Roy/Ricky (Dorothy) Starnes, and numerous other nieces and nephews; grandchildren Christopher Joel Smith, Rachel Smith, Colin Smith, Lena (Jason) Cox, Zachary Hood, Kelly (Jason) Giles, Nathan (Ashley) Hood, and step-grandchildren Rhonda and Rodney Murphy, Jeff (Lori) and Jerrod (Kristina) Franklin; adopted grandchildren Lilya and Alona Smith; great grandchildren Iris, Eden, and Grace Hood, Kennedy and Bradley Cox, adopted great-grandchild, Zachariah Smith, and step-great grandchildren Austin, Aspen, Alyssa Kaye, Addison, and Anderson Franklin.
Visitation will be Saturday, February 8, 2020 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM with the funeral service beginning at 11:00 AM at her home church New Life Assembly of God, 27039 AL-5, Woodstock, AL 35188, over which Pastor Chad Payne will preside. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Bessemer, Alabama.
Colleen spent much of her childhood in Detroit, Michigan where her Father worked in an automobile factory. Later, the family moved to Addison, Alabama to begin a life of farming. Subsequently her Father died and in spite of her Mother’s heroic efforts to keep the farm a bank foreclosed and the family moved to Birmingham. In due time, Colleen graduated from Ramsay High School.
While working in a Chiropractic office in the building occupied by the Lyric Theater, Colleen met her first husband, Theodore Roy Smith. The Smith family bought a home on Pine Street, Bessemer where they raised their 3 children, all of whom attended McAdory School. Her husband’s family owned Smith Grocery on 4th Avenue, Bessemer, Alabama and she worked there for a time. She also worked many years for McCain Uniform in downtown Birmingham.
After more than 25 years the Smiths divorced. Later Colleen married Hugh Murphy whom she met at church. They lived together in Caffey Junction, Alabama for more than another 25 years. After Hugh died Colleen’s health deteriorated to the point that she became a resident at Gwinnett Extended Care Center in Lawrenceville, Georgia where she lived the remainder of her life.
Colleen is preceded in death by her first Husband, Theodore Roy Smith and her second Husband Hugh Murphy, Sr.; siblings Eleanor (John) Vaughn Crawford of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Daniel (Jean) Vaughn of Remlap, AL; step-grandchild Rebecca Murphy; and great grandchild, Phoenix Olivia Hood.
Colleen is survived by her sister, Geraldine (Frank) Wegent; her 3 children, Ted (Patricia) Smith of Pelham, Alabama, Joel (Jelaine) Smith of Florala, Alabama, Edie (Kevin) Hood of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and step-child Hugh Murphy Jr. (Bo); nephew Arthur Roy/Ricky (Dorothy) Starnes, and numerous other nieces and nephews; grandchildren Christopher Joel Smith, Rachel Smith, Colin Smith, Lena (Jason) Cox, Zachary Hood, Kelly (Jason) Giles, Nathan (Ashley) Hood, and step-grandchildren Rhonda and Rodney Murphy, Jeff (Lori) and Jerrod (Kristina) Franklin; adopted grandchildren Lilya and Alona Smith; great grandchildren Iris, Eden, and Grace Hood, Kennedy and Bradley Cox, adopted great-grandchild, Zachariah Smith, and step-great grandchildren Austin, Aspen, Alyssa Kaye, Addison, and Anderson Franklin.
Visitation will be Saturday, February 8, 2020 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM with the funeral service beginning at 11:00 AM at her home church New Life Assembly of God, 27039 AL-5, Woodstock, AL 35188, over which Pastor Chad Payne will preside. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Bessemer, Alabama.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Colleen V. Murphy, please visit our flower store.