WAYNESVILLE —Deacon Leonard Credell Murphy, Sr., 87 of Waynesville, passed away after an extended illness Wednesday evening, April 19, 2023, at his residence surrounded by his loved ones. Born in Waynesville, May 5, 1935, his parents were Freddie A. Murphy and Redessa Brown Murphy. In addition to his parents, he also was preceded in death by six brothers: Thomas Murphy, Sr., Floyd Murphy, Douglas Murphy, Franklin Dover Murphy, Gregory L. Murphy, Sr., and Freddie Murphy, Jr.; and three sisters, Vivian Murphy Harrison, Yvonne Murphy and Emma Lou Murphy. Murphy was retired from the logging/pulp wood timber industry, having spent more than 50 years working for various local operations throughout southeast Georgia, north Florida, and spent several years working in South Carolina. He was also briefly self-employed in the same industry. Murphy was known for having the skill of being able to proficiently function in all roles that required harvesting pulp timber from the source, and was a trainer for those working with him. Murphy loved going to church, and was a member of the First African Baptist Church in Waynesville since an early age. He served fervently as a Deacon of this church for more than 45 years. Deacon Murphy, along side his brother, the late Deacon Thomas Murphy, also served as groundskeeper for the church and the family cemetery. He also was one of the principal builders for the new church edifice in 1972. Murphy received his elementary education at the school located at the First African Baptist Church also. He later participated in a work-study program at Ware Technical School in Waycross where he received training in welding, learning to weld well enough to apply it on the job at various times throughout his career. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Mrs. Mabel Smith Murphy of Waynesville, Red Cap Community; two sons and four daughters, Leonard C. Murphy, Jr. and Kevin Alexander Murphy of Appleton, Wisc., Lorie Anne Banks, Wanda L. Murphy and Paula R. Murphy, all of Waynesville, and Claudette C. Murphy-Jackson of Jacksonville, Fla. Mr. Murphy also is survived by 11 grandchildren and six great grandchildren; a brother, Harry V. (Brenda) Murphy, Sr.; three sisters, Florine McBee, of Brunswick, Joanna Nesbitt of Jacksonville, and Gwendolyn C. Murphy of Waynesville; 11 sisters-in-law, Shirley Roberson of Brunswick, Elizabeth (Leonard) Mitchell, Mae Vern Anderson of Waycross, Dianne Burch and Sandra (Porter) Robinson of Brunswick, Bessie Lattany of Washington D.C., and Berniece Ann (Henry) Moreland of Kingsland. He also survived by 11 brothers-in-law, Clyde (Mildred) Anderson of Lake City, Fla., Charles Anderson and Henry Bryant of Waycross, John Lattany, Derrick Lattany, James (Jeannie) Lattany, all of Waynesville, Red Cap Community, Warren (Emma Jean) Lattany and Michael Lattany of Brunswick; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and sorrowing friends. Arrangements are with Brunswick Funeral Home, Inc. A walk-through viewing will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, April 28 at the Brunswick Funeral Home, 2700 Albany Street, Brunswick. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 29 at the First African Baptist Church, 1318 Mineral Springs Road, Waynesville. The interment will follow at McDonald Cemetery, Post Road in Waynesville. COVID-19 protocol is still in affect for all indoor activities. Please bring and wear a mask for all indoor functions.
