Geraldine Murphy

Known to her loving nieces and nephews as “Aunt Jeb,” Gerry Murphy died peacefully at home at age 93. She was born on July 13, 1931 in Sneads, FL, to John Lee and Amelia O’Dell Reams Murphy. The Murphys have lived in FL for 7 generations. At age 4 her family moved to Tallahassee. Gerry graduated from Leon High, class of ’49, and attended FSU briefly before moving to San Francisco. She completed her BA in SF State (cum laude), her MSW from UC Berkeley and earned a certificate in pre-retirement planning from the U of Tennessee. She also attended several summer institutes at the U of Southern Calif. Gerry retired from the SF Community College as a program supervisor in Gerontology.

Gerry was predeceased by her parents, sister and brother-in-law Elaine and Emmett Cook, her brother and sister-in-law Simmie and Vergie Murphy, two cherished nephews, Larry Cook and John Michael Murphy, and Elizabeth Massie, her partner of 58 years. Gerry had many interests over a long and rich life. Her family and friends were important to her and she often repeated Georgia O’Keeffe’s saying that friends were like roses--they should be cherished and nurtured.

Among Gerry’s many interests were travel--she visited every continent and most of them three or more times, rode elephants in India and Nepal. She and her long-time friend Bill Snider celebrated their 70th birthdays by going to the North Pole on a Russian icebreaker--also hiking, birding, camping, collecting art, going to museums, studying wildflowers, and classical music, especially Wagner’s Ring Cycle, which she saw over a dozen times.

Gerry leaves behind much loved nieces Nanci Cook Watkins (Butch) and Sharon Cook Smith, and nephews Gary Cook and Tim Murphy, her nieces-in-law Deanna Murphy and Phyllis Cook, as well as several great- and grand- nephews and nieces, all of Florida. Gerry will be missed by dear friends across the country and abroad, including special long-time friends Lillian, Kathy, and Bill.

Thank you to the many friends and caregivers who have enriched Gerry’s life over the years. A celebration of life is planned for the Spring, followed by burial of remains in Florida.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to either of her two favorite non-profits would have pleased Gerry very much: CA Advocates for Nursing Home Reform in San Francisco, CA and Birdsong Nature Center in Thomasville, GA.

A a celebration of life for Geraldine will be held Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, 1737 Riggins Rd, Tallahassee, Florida 32308. Following the a celebration of life will be a burial at 1:30 PM at Oakland Cemetery, 838 North Bronough Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32303.