Mary Ann Reddoch Murray

Mary Ann Reddoch Murray was the first daughter and second child of Mary Wilson and Longino Reddoch. She was born on Tuesday, June 5, 1928, at her maternal grandmother's home in Ellisville, Mississippi. Her parents later welcomed two additional daughters into their family. Mrs. Murray grew up in Hebron. Her parents filled their home with love, inspiration, encouragement, and joy that yielded values and memories that lasted throughout her life. As a child she, her mother, sister, and brother looked forward to seeing movies every Saturday at the Strand, Jean, and Arabian Theaters in Laurel. She swam in the Leaf River with her siblings before the age when fear of snakes took over. And, she enjoyed the entertainment provided by her mother's entrepreneurial venture with the biggest mail order hog anyone in the area had ever seen. She enjoyed learning and was a disciplined student. At Mississippi State College for Women (MSCW) she majored in history. After teaching high school history for two years, Mrs. Murray decided to change her focus to business education; so, she took courses at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) to become qualified to teach typing, bookkeeping, and shorthand. A few years later she earned a master's degree in business education at USM. She taught her entire thirty-nine year career at Taylorsville High School. In becoming a teacher, she followed in her mother's foot steps. Prior to entering MSCW, she graduated from Jones County Agricultural High School and Jones County Junior College both in Ellisville. Her elementary school years would shape her adult life in an unexpected way, also; for, she met her future husband Charles Henry Murray while attending Summerland Elementary School. They married August 8, 1949, and had one child, a daughter, Marianne Yvonne Murray. Mrs. Murray's dedication to education shaped her choices of organizations to which she belonged. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International that promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education and Smith County Retired Teachers. Service to her church was instilled into her by her parents. She was a loyal member of Summerland Baptist Church. She faithfully attended worship services until her health prevented her from leaving home and taught children's Sunday School classes for many years. The Lottie Moon Missionary Organization was of particular interest to her. She felt it essential that the monetary goal for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering was met or exceeded each year. Mrs. Murray had an abundance of interests. One of her favorites was volunteer work with school children. After her retirement from teaching and before the onset of her final illness, she participated in the West Jones Elementary reading program. One day a week during the school year she read to a fourth grade class. She carefully selected stories that presented classic inspirational character-building lessons in living. Travel was another interest. But, fear of flying and large expanses of water limited her destinations for decades until she decided to overcome both in order to see the inside passage of Alaska, experience the locks of the Panama Canal, view the sculptures at Mount Rushmore, and feel the spray of Niagara Falls. Other interests included reading to be informed of currents events and for sheer entertainment -- Agatha Christie was one of her favorite authors, collecting art by Mississippi artists, and walking. Walking was especially enjoyed. She and friends built up to four miles a day. They walked every day the weather permitted. Mary Ann Reddoch Murray died on Tuesday, August 5, 2014, at her home after a lengthy illness. Funeral services will be Friday, August 8, at 2:00 p.m. at Summerland Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. at the church. Burial will follow at the Hebron Community Cemetery. She is survived by her daughter Yvonne Murray of Natchez, Mississippi; her sisters Elizabeth Reddoch Langley and Judith Reddoch Wingo both of Taylorsville, Mississippi; and numerous cherished nieces and nephews. Mrs. Murray was predeceased in death by her husband Charles H. Murray. The day of her funeral is the anniversary of their marriage. She is, also, predeceased by her parents Mary Wilson Reddoch and Longino Reddoch and her brother Dr. James Wilson Reddoch of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Pallbearers will be Fred Allen Domingue, Jr.; James Daniel Elledge, Jr.; Aubrey Lynn Knight; Wayne E. Loftin, John Clay Murray; John Clay Murray, Jr.; and William DeWitt Tilden. Memory Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. To view and sign the family guestbook, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com. Anyone wishing to make a memorial in honor of Mrs. Murray may send a contribution to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering at Summerland Baptist Church.

Mary Ann Reddoch Murray

June 5, 1928 - August 5, 2014