Marcia Gene Murray Moss

Marcia was born on October 6, 1945 in Great Bend, Kansas, the daughter of the late Walter Thomas Murray and Geneva Nell Jackson Murray of Paris, Tennessee. Mr. Murray served in the Army Air Corps and returned to Paris after WWII to help his father R.L. Murray in business. Marcia was brought home to Paris at six weeks old. She attended Atkins-Porter Elementary and E.W. Grove High School, graduating in 1963. Marcia attended Memphis State University for two years and was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. While there, she competed in both the 1964 and 1965 Miss Tennessee Pageants. She was crowned Miss Tennessee in 1965. It was during her reign as Miss Tennessee that Marcia met and fell in love with attorney William Preston Moss, Jr. of Jackson. They married in Paris, TN on September 3,1966.

She attended and graduated from Lambuth College, now the University of Memphis, Lambuth Campus, with a B.S. in Biology and General Science. She taught Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Math, Physical Science, and Life Science for thirty years, with twenty-seven of those years being at University School of Jackson. After retiring from USJ, she served as a substitute teacher for both private and public schools in the community. For three years, she taught remedial reading and writing to incoming students at Jackson State Community College and it was here that Marcia recognized there are students who were not fully prepared for the college level. She began seeking ways to become involved in strengthening our public education system. In October of 2023, Marcia was appointed to the Jackson Madison County School Board. She was elected to the position in August of 2024, and is currently on the ballot for re-election.

Marcia had dedicated her life to the Lord at a young age and her love for Him was evident in everything she said and did. Her greatest desire wss that her children and grandchildren would know the Lord. She sent her four children "Daily Bread" scriptures every single day for years. Marcia loved her church, All Saints Anglican Church, and looked forward to attending every Sunday, often picking up her lifelong friend to go with her & enjoying lunch together afterward. Marcia attended Explorer's Bible Study weekly for years, always thinking of other women who could go with her and learn more about Jesus. She cherished her old friends and loved making new ones. She genuinely loved every person who came into her life and spoke of them often.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William Preston “Bill” Moss, Jr. Marcia was a beautifully devoted wife to Bill for over 30 years. She lived out their vows perfectly as she cared for him & loved him during his lengthy illness until his passing in 1997.

She is survived by her four children, William Preston "Billy" Moss III (Claire) of Oxford, MS; Meredith Moss Varino (Matt), of Jackson; Kate Moss Clinton (Sam Murrey) of Memphis; and Murray McCarroll Moss (Elizabeth), of Orange Beach, AL.

Marcia leaves behind ten grandchildren whom she deeply adored; Henry Moss, Lucy Moss, Lilly Kate Varino, Abby Varino, Sophie Varino, Avery Clinton, Stella Clinton, Blair Moss, Jeanne Monroe Moss, and Myers Moss.

She is also survived by her sister, Susan Murray Allison (Randy) of Jackson and their children Rick, Russell, Rob and Rachel Allison.

She is also survived by her precious sisters-in- law, Ginny Moss, Carroll Moss Barnes (Jimmy) and Mary Lu Pettigrew (Randy) and her many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

A service to celebrate the life and legacy of Marcia Moss will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at 1:00 pm at All Saints Anglican Church with a private burial following at Hollywood Cemetery. The family will receive friends at All Saints beginning at 10 a.m., three hours prior to the service.