Charles Murphey Jr.

Charles Hardin Murphey, Jr., 87, passed away, Monday, August 30, 2010, at University Medical Center in Jackson, MS.
Memorial services will be at 2p.m. Thursday, September 2, 2010, at Wilson & Knight Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be Wednesday, September 1, 2010, 5p.m. to 7p.m. at Wilson & Knight Funeral Home. Burial will be in Itta Bena Cemetery. Rev. Ren Smith will officiate.
He was born in Itta Bena and lived his life there. He was a member of Itta Bena First Baptist Church where he was a deacon and choir member and Sunday school teacher and was involved in many other activities of the church. He graduated from Humphreys High School in Itta Bena in 1939. He was later a graduate of Mississippi State College now Mississippi State University. After graduation from MSU he was inducted in the United States Army in Camp Shelby. He later received a commission as a second Lieutenant and was sent to the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations. He spent most of his military career in that theater of operation until the war ended he was discharged from the army in 1946 as a 1st Lieutenant. He spent two years in New Orleans, Louisiana with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He returned to Itta Bena and began a farming partnership, Murphey Brothers, with his brother R.Y. Murphey. Their partnership was engaged in farming and also flying service. He served on the board of directors of several agriculture related business. He was active in Itta Bena Lions Club and Rotary Club. His hobbies included flying, fishing, photography and reading Civil War history.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice Smith Murphey; his parents; two brothers, Eugene Halsell Murphey and Robert Y. Murphey; and a sister, Margaret Lindsey.
He is survived by three sons, Thomas H. Murphey and wife, Linda of Oxford, MS, Charles H. Murphey III of Itta Bena, MS and Ray Kelly Murphey and wife, Kim of Ridgeland, MS; grandchildren, Amy Hardin Shirkey of Oxford, MS, Jamie Holland Murphey of Brooklyn, New York, Charles H. Murphey IV of Nashville, MS, Robbie Young Murphey of University, MS, Lindsey F. Murphey of Jackson, MS, and Meagan Ray Murphey of Jackson, MS; one great grandchild, Aiden Forrest.
Pallbearers will be Kimble Kelly, Ray Evans, Wayne Aldridge, Larry Kelly, Gene Mixon, Richie Fulgham, David Hodges, Jr., Walter Pennebaker. Honorary Pallbearers will be Randle Makamson, David Hodges, Sr., John Franklin Bratton, Billy Higginbotham, John Bariola, Wiley Jenkins, George Young, Robert B. "Tut" Patterson, and Men's Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church.