Josephine Brewer Murphy

Born September 13, 1925, Katherine Josephine Brewer Murphy, was one of nine children born to John and Carrie Dyer Brewer in Big Sandy, Tennessee. Josephine graduated from Big Sandy High School and attended college graduating with a Nursing degree. She began her nursing career in Memphis and soon moved to Jackson where she was hired at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. It was here she met her future groom, John T. Murphy, Sr.

After their marriage in early 1952, Josephine joined her husband at Murphy Tractor Company. Together they operated and entertained at the farm equipment dealership until his death in 2006. While running the business and following Tennessee football, she was honored to be given the opportunity to serve as Regent for the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and remained an active member for years. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Jackson.

Josephine was preceded in death by her parents, her groom of 53 years, John T., sons Perry Houston Murphy and Dr. John T. Murphy, Jr., and daughter Libby Murphy. She is survived by son, Perry Brewer Murphy and wife Vickie of Jackson; as well as granddaughters Katie and Kendall Murphy of Jackson, TN, Carrie Jordan (Trent) of Florence, Alabama and grandson John Thomas Murphy (Faith) also of Florence. Other survivors include 3 great-grandsons and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Friday, July 28 from 12 Noon until 2 PM with funeral services immediately following, all at George A. Smith and Sons North Chapel. Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be directed to the Morgan McCarty Scholarship Foundation, 95 Alta Vista Drive, Jackson, TN 38305.

Pallbearers will be Calvin Murphy, Jimmy Hawks, Joe Coury, Scotty Lafont, Don McLeary, and John Byrum.