Lear Lee Murray

Deaconess Lear L. Murray was born the eldest of ten children to the late Harold and Allie Haynesworth on June 14, 1934 in Florence, South Carolina. She was called home to glory on Monday, December 29th, 2025, after a brief illness. She was 91 years old.
Educated in the public school system in South Carolina, she graduated from Brockington High School in 1954 and was employed in the hotel industry prior to relocating to NYC.
She was introduced to her husband, Sam Murray, Jr., by her late cousin, Buddy Barr, an army buddy They soon fell in love and were joined in holy matrimony on September 7, 1955 in Florence, SC, and from this union, were blessed with four children.
Deaconess Murray accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior while attending Meadow Prong Baptist Church in SC. After relocating to NYC with her husband in 1963, she joined Baptist Temple Church (BTC) in Harlem, NY.
She was an active member of BTC, serving faithfully as past President of the Evangelist Choir, Deaconess Board, Pastor's Aide Ministry, the Children's Scholarship Guild, and the Willing Worker's; as chairwoman and co-chair on multiple banquet committees and for Homecoming. She was a member of the Church's Aide Society and the H. G. Singers. In 1991, she was ordained as a deaconess.
Deaconess Murray was a successful fundraiser who enjoyed organizing with her committees the annual cruises for the Children's Scholarship Guild and the annual bus rides for the Willing Worker's to raise money to support education and BTC's building fund. Her bus was affectionally called, "the fun bus" due to all the sing a longs and group games she encouraged. She was the founder of the Birthday Club Committee, a masonic member of the Sisters of Faith, a phenomenal interior decorator who was recruited often to design BTC's lower fellowship area for their many celebratory events.
She retired as a paraprofessional from AHRC NY, Bronx Blue Feathers, a Special Education Program in June 2005, after thirty years of service. She loved working for the Association whose goal is to support special needs children in their early childhood development. She obtained her certification from Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn.
She was a true blessing and a rare jewel from God to her children and family. She always included her family in all her endeavors, especially her daughter. A fantastic cook and prankster who enjoyed having fun and who was possessed with a beautiful presence, You just loved being around her. Her love, wisdom, kind and gentle spirit will be deeply missed. We were so blessed.
Deaconess Murray was preceded in death by her husband, Sam Murray, Jr., two sons, Bobby L. Murray and Gary Tony Murray, three brothers, George, Harold, and Charles Haynesworth, a sister: Celestine Haynesworth. She leaves to cherish fond memories: her loving oldest son, Ricky L. Murray (fiancée, Deeana Stewart) of Jacksonville, FL; her devoted and only daughter, Cherryl Murray-Marone and beloved son-in-law, Robert J. Marone of New York; her three brothers and wives: Vernon Haynesworth (Ora Lee), Elijah Haynesworth (Rebecca), and Frank Haynesworth (Betty); a devoted sister: Helena McCellan of Florence, SC; two beloved grandchildren: Richard A. Murray of Jacksonville, FL, and Tenisha Lewis Houston of Mobile, AL; a beautiful great granddaughter: Anara Murray of Jacksonville, FL; two loving brothers-in-law: Ozzie Murray of the Bronx, NY and Charles Murray of Yonges Island, SC; three beautiful sisters-in-law: Shirley Murray-McCann of the Bronx, NY, Lovely Jean Mitchell of Yulee, FL, and Lorraine Murray of Hollywood, SC; a host of fantastic nieces, great nieces, nephews, great nephews, a great, great nephew, cousins, neighbors, coworkers, her church family, and friends. Plus, a special adopted daughter, Nadine Dugan of the Bronx, NY, Son: Charles Reeves of the Bronx, NY and a special adopted sister, Mrs. Lue Ellen Edmunds of Dothan, AL.
Lovingly submitted by the Family.
Please note, there will be 2 ways to view the service via livestream, on YouTube or by Zoom.
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Meeting ID: 345 869 2924
Passcode: MURRAY
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