Irma Mae Murray Glover of Smackover, AR passed away on March 21, 2018. She was 97 years old. She was the daughter of Hunter and Minnie Burrough Murray, and was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, February 20, 1921. Irma had one brother, George Murray. She attended Tupelo Public Schools during the depression years. Her father and mother worked at the Tupelo Cotton Mill. In 1937 the cotton mill was forced to close due to the efforts of union organizers. As a result, Irma’s family was forced to move to Kosciusko, Mississippi to find employment before her senior year in high school. Irma was a graduate of Kosciusko High School class of 1939.
Irma attended Hillman Girls’ Junior College in Clinton, Mississippi, for two years. She was an honor graduate and also selected by faculty to represent the college as the young woman who most represented Christian attitudes and service to her school and community. The class of 1941 selected Irma to be “Miss Hillman”. “Miss Hillman” was not a beauty contest but an honorary award presented to the young woman who best represented the traits of friendliness, service to others, religious activities and leadership abilities. She considered this one of her life’s highest honors. Irma then attended and completed Mississippi College where she graduated with honors and was listed in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, 1943 edition. Girls in the dorm would often gather in Irma’s room on Saturday night where they would listen to the radio, yell, and “swoon” as Frank Sinatra would sing on the Hit Parade. Another memory of Irma’s from her days at Mississippi College occurred in 1941. The Mississippi College marching band members were part of the 155th Nation Guard Unit. Most of the student body escorted them to the train station when they shipped out for duty at the beginning of World War II. After the war, many returned, some did not.
After graduation, Irma moved to Memphis, TN and worked in Sears central office. Later she worked on staff of the LaBelle Baptist Church in Memphis. It was there she met the love of her life, Ed Glover, while attending a social event hosted by the church for service members. One glimpse of tall Ed and Irma claimed him as her own and the rest is history. They dated until the end of WWII and the Christmas of 1945 Ed proposed and she accepted. They were married at LaBelle Baptist Church on March 16, 1946. The first seven years of their married life were spent with Ed attending Pearl River Junior College and Irma working as Baptist Student Director; Ed attended Mississippi College while Irma worked on staff at Clinton Baptist Church and finally New Orleans Seminary where Irma worked as secretary in various businesses in the New Orleans area. Their first child, Peggy was born while Ed attended seminary in New Orleans, LA. After graduation from seminary, Irma, Ed and Peggy moved to Harperville, Mississippi where they had their first full-time church. Their second daughter, Glenda was born in Harperville months before their move to Marrable Hill Baptist Church in El Dorado, AR in 1954.
Irma loved her role as a pastor’s wife. She always believed that pastoring a church required a team. Ed was the President and she was CEO. While in El Dorado, Irma was not only busy encouraging Ed and raising the girls, but was active in Women’s Mission Union (WMU), teaching a ladies Sunday School class (Irma started teaching Sunday School classes when she was 13 years of age), teaching piano lessons (she was a gifted musician) and was active in the P,.T. A. She was secretary of Murmil Heights Elementary School of El Dorado in the late 1960’s. They served at Marrable Hill Baptist Church for over 15 years. Irma loved to mentor young women in all churches where they served. In 1968 Irma and Ed moved to Smackover, AR, where they served together at Maple Avenue Baptist Church for more than 18 years. Irma taught at Smackover Middle School for 10 years where she taught English, History and Music Appreciation. Her influence was felt by many students and is still felt today. Irma loved to hear about the accomplishments of her former students. After Ed’s death in 2001, Irma continued her work at Maple Avenue with the WMU, continued to teach her ladies’ Sunday School class, continued to sing in the choir and worked with children at AWANA with the missions lessons.
Throughout the years Irma sent hundreds of birthday, anniversary, sympathy and get well cards to individuals all over the United States. After taking a computer class when she was in her 80’s, Irma learned to send emails and e-cards to individuals and missionaries all around the world.
Outside of church, Irma’s greatest joys came from her children, Peggy Ellen Glover Hargett and David Hargett (deceased) of Smackover, AR, Glenda Murray Glover Ford and Raymond Dennis Ford of Hot Springs Village, AR; grandchildren, Raymond Thomas Ford of Hot Springs Village, AR, Jonathan Murray Ford (Allison) of Nashville, TN, DJ Hargett (Kelly), Crystal Rapp (Drew); and great grandchildren, Grace Marie Hargett and Samantha May Hargett; Eric Rapp (Lorrie), and Kyle Rapp (Melanie); and great great granddaughter, Mia Rapp and great great grandson, Liam Rapp all of El Dorado, AR.
The family thanks Irma’s caregiver, Sheila Thurman, for taking such good care of Mom over the past 6 months.
Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2018 at Young’s.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 23, 2018 at Maple Avenue Baptist Church with Rev. Lawrence Harrison and Dr. Benjy McCann officiating. Private burial will be held under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.
In lieu of flowers please make a contribution to Maple Avenue BC Missions Fund, 1306 Maple Street, Smackover, AR 71762.
Exerpts of this obituary were taken from “Oral History Report” by Evelyn Crumpler written for her U.S. History since 1876 class on November 14, 2008.
An online guest registry will be available at www.youngfuneralhome.com
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