Obituary of Alfred Murray

Alfred Murray was born on November 28, 1928 in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of eleven children born to the late Watson and Ethel Bryd Murray. All have preceded him in death. Always a leader, he graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School as Class President. He also excelled in varsity football, a sport for which he had a life long love…Go EAGLES!!! After High School, he served in the Naval Reserve with tours spanning the nation.

He was baptized as an infant at the Historic Mother Bethel A.M.E. in Philadelphia. As a young adult, Alfred recalled being "Strangely Warmed", while worshipping in church one night. The loving atmosphere was an uplifting experience which allowed the Holy Spirit to open his heart to invite Christ into his life.

Alfred was a born leader who exercised his gifts of leadership in many areas. He served as a Neighborhood Commissioner for two years. In 1948, he joined the Boy Scouts of America and earned the title of Scoutmaster in which he served for 12 years. He established Troop #392 at Tioga UMC Church in Philadelphia to empower and build the character of local young men through earning merit badges, teaching survival techniques, life skills and how to tie a proper knot. No man could ever untangle a "Murray Knot!"

As a young man, Alfred served as leader of the Young Adult Fellowship at Mt. Zion Methodist Church where he caught the eye of a young Margaret Travis Derrickson. Initially, she felt he was too bossy and arrogant; however as God would have it, on January 1,1950 they were married and to this union three daughters were born. Before they knew it, 69 years had passed! Alfred and Margaret always had a broad idea of family that included in-laws, sisters, nieces, nephews and friends. They were all family and the Murray doors were always open.

After working several odd jobs, Alfred was accepted into the Philadelphia Electric Company's training program. He joined the utility crew and raised his family on a lineman's salary. When Philly went dark during a storm, Alfred and the crews climbed electric poles to restore power to the neighborhood. In those days, Black Linemen put their lives on the line working with electricity; however, they were not given opportunities for growth or advancement within PECO.

This could not be tolerated. Alfred joined nine other men to form the Black Grievance Committee. Together they brought a lawsuit against PECO and their discriminatory hiring and advancement practices. The lawsuit lasted for ten years; and in April 1985, salaries and working conditions finally improved for minority workers. Awareness and change soon followed. Alfred's outgoing personality moved him to join the PECO Speaker's Forum which he served as President for two years. In order to enhance his skills as a Minister of God's Church, Alfred began taking classes at Philadelphia College of the Bible currently known as Cairn University. As a result, he was assigned positions as a Church School Superintendent and later as an Assistant to the Pastor.

Still, wanting more, He earned an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Burlington County Community College and finished his Ordination Studies at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC at age 60, all of this after putting four daughters through college. These admirable qualities of hard work and dedication were displayed in the service of the Lord through Black Methodist for Church Renewal [BMCR]. Two wonderful tasks were accomplished. He served churches in remote locations like an old fashion Circuit Rider. BMCR experienced its greatest growth in history during this time. Secondly, he was the visionary for change in the way confirmation classes were taught.

He took his new ideas to Washington, DC where he testified in front of the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church. He proposed the inclusion of the African American experience to be intentionally taught in the Methodist Church. In 2010, the Board agreed and gave BMCR the grant to proceed. This native Philadelphian created an interactive tour following in the footsteps of Richard Allen, Charles Albert Tindley, Harry Hoosier and Absalom Jones by visiting five historic churches: Old St. George's, Mother Bethel AME, Tindley Temple, Mother Zoar and St. Thomas AME.

Over the years, Alfred served in several Conferences, in particular, the Old Delaware Conference as a Sub District President. He later became Pastor of St. Paul UMC in Mt. Holly, NJ; Broadway UMC in Camden, NJ and the Haven UMC in Quinton, NJ. He was the first African American Assistant Pastor of the St. Paul UMC in Willingboro. Traveling was a life long goal. After finally retiring, Alfred and Margaret set off to explore the world! Voyages aboard the Princess Cruise Line sent them to Hawaii, Alaska, Panama Canal, British Isles, Jamaica, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey and Paris just to name a few.

Finally, he was assigned to Hamilton UMC in Atlantic City, NJ. Upon retirement from the Southern New Jersey Conference, St. Paul in Willingboro became his permanent church home where he accepted the position of Minister of Visitation until he was 89 years old. He loved St. Paul and remained a faithful member until the Lord said so. On Thursday, January 24; Alfred Murray peacefully left this life to inherit his eternal reward. He leaves behind his loving wife Margaret, sister-in-law Sallye Derrickson, three daughters, Valerie Murray, Patricia West [John] and Constance Curry [Daryl], one niece raised as a daughter Wanda Ragins [David]. He also has four grandchildren, Gregory Collister-Murray [Phillip], Candace West, Sierra Curry and Xavier Curry, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The Lord said to him, Well done good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of the Lord. (Matthew 25:21)