William D. Murrell, Sr.

On Saturday, August 6, 2022, William "Big Bill" Delany Murrell Sr., loving husband, father, community, civil and social activist, entrepreneur and educator passed away at the age of 77 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Big Bill, as he was affectionately called, was a sensitive but spirited soul born on November 9, 1944 at New York Hospital in New York City, NY to parents Edward and Laura. Big Bill was the youngest of their three children.

When he was sixteen years old his family relocated, to Mt. Vernon on McClellan Avenue where they shared a duplex with their aunts, Sarah "Sadie" Delany and Dr. Elizabeth "Bessie" Delany of "Having Our Say" fame and across the street from their uncle, Dr. Henry "Hap" Delany all of whom were influential members of their community and very significant contributors to the country and the world at large.

Big Bill, of course, adhered to the family tradition of social activism by supporting voter registration efforts in Mississippi and volunteering on the Ogala Sioux reservation in Montana.

He then graduated from Evander Childs High School in the Bronx in 1964 and later matriculated at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, where he majored in Industrial Arts Education. This where he met and married his former wife Jeannette Allen(n?e). The couple had three beautiful children.

In 1969 Big Bill graduated from Florida A&M university and immediately began his teaching career in St. Augustine, Florida as a teacher.

This marked the beginning of a long, arduous history he had with America's oldest city.

Assuredly in June 1970, Big Bill moved his young family not back to New York but to Detroit, Michigan where he attended graduate school at Wayne State University, and later the University of Michigan.

Bill was always about family, he loved all. No matter who they were, or where they were from, he was always available, willing to take them in, with open arms, no questions asked.

Big Bill married Cynthia Clark in the summer of 2004 in Detroit by his brother Edward Jr. The happy couple formally retired and all there was to do was enjoy the grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Big Bill was a lifetime member of both Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc, and Florida A&M Alumni Association. He was also an active member of St. Matthew St. Joseph Episcopal Church in Detroit and Christ the King Anglican Church in St. Augustine.

He is predeceased by his loving wife Cynthia Clark(n?e); His parents Edward Ferguson, Sr. and Laura Edith Delany(n?e) as well as his older brother Edward Ferguson, Jr.

Big Bill is survived by sons William Delany Jr., Shamba Lee(Vanessa); daughter Jasmine Laura (Jason) and their mother Jeannette Allen(n?e); grandchildren Aja Lee Mahoa(Brandon) and William Caleb; great grandchildren Lohr and Io; sister Nanny Louise; nieces Nandi, Arin, Kai, Kei, and Maia; nephew, Che; cousins, Peggy, Fergie, Eddie, Robin, Marc, Holly, Chris, Dino, Sara, and Nan-Joanne; and a host of relatives, colleagues and friends.

He is missed but his love and kindness resides in all of our hearts.

Memorial services to be held at St. Matthew St. Joseph Episcopal Church, 8850 Woodward Avenue, Detroit,Michigan 48202 on a date to be announced in 2023.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Florida A&M Scholarship Fund.