Willard Flynn Murphy, Jr.

He was preceded in death by his father, Willard Flynn Murphy Sr.; his mother, Annette Black McClain; and his brother, Steven A. Murphy and his niece Kelli Annette Wise.

He is survived by his wife Heidi Ewell Murphy; his children, Sean Flynn, and Lily Christine; his sister, Lynn Wise; his stepmother, Nell Murphy; his nephew, Tracy (Maria) Baker; his niece, Bailey Murphy; and his lifelong best friend, Charles Casmus.

Flynn received his Masters Degree in Arts at The University of Alabama. He began his teaching career at McGill-Toolen High School in Mobile, Alabama from 1974 until 1976 and The Montgomery Academy from 1976 until 1978 where he developed theater programs in both of these schools. He then returned to his alma mater, Robert E. Lee High School, where he taught for twenty-five years. While at Lee he directed more then thirty plays. Four of which were full length Shakespearian plays. He also served as adjunct instructor of Speech at both Auburn Montgomery and Alabama State University. He served as Trumbauer chair person for six consecutive years.

He was honored with WSFA’s class act award in 2001 and the Alabama Conference of Theater’s highest award for a high school theatre teacher, the Dorothy Schwartz Award for Outstanding Theatre Teacher, in 2003. He was inducted into the Robert E. Lee High School Hall of Fame in 2008.

“Buddy” would say his biggest accomplishment was being a father. He had always wanted children and considered himself lucky enough to have two in his retirement years.

He was an active member of Frazer United Methodist Church where he taught the Prime Time Singles Sunday School Class and the Fourth Grade Girls Sunday School Class.

Buddy was a loving husband and father, brother, teacher and a good and faithful friend. His faith in Jesus Christ was firm. This was evident to all by how he loved people. He will be deeply missed.

A visiation for Buddy will be held Wednesday, January 27, 2021 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Leak Memory Chapel, 945 Lincoln Rd, Montgomery, Alabama 36109. A funeral service will occur Thursday, January 28, 2021 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Frazer United Methodist Church, 6000 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, Alabama 36117.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Buddy's memory may be made to Respite Ministry of First United Methodist Church, 2416 West Cloverdale Park, Montgomery, Alabama 36106 US, www.fumcmontgomery.org; and Lewy Body Association, 912 Killian Hill Road SW, Lilburn, Georgia 30047 US, www.lbda.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Leak-MC.com for the Murphy, Jr. family.