Dr. Morgan Imani Woodward Murray-Lewis

Dr. Morgan Imani Woodward Murray-Lewis was born December 22, 1982 in Washington, DC to John Gaines Murray and Kathy Woodward Murray. She was their first-born child and the light of their lives. She was raised in the North Michigan Park neighborhood of Washington, DC and graduated from St. John’s College High School.

Even though she and little brother Sean were mischievous children, Morgan was a born educator. On more than one occasion, her parents spied her using a stick as a pointer as she instructed stuffed animals on their ABCs. (And true to her nature, she was always patient when they were slow to catch on.) Despite this natural inclination, she assumed she would be a doctor like her mother but finally decided to follow her heart.

Her educational journey took her first to The Ohio State University where she earned her BA in Communications. While becoming a Buckeye, she got her first taste of work in Higher Education, Residence Life. As a Resident Advisor (RA), she realized that student life is an essential part of student success. As she worked toward her Master’s at North Carolina State University she continued this work and earned promotion after promotion. She went on to earn a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Her dissertation, Exploring the Experiences of Black Resident Advisors At Historically White Institutions, was the culmination of years of study and observation. She was beloved in her role as Director of Residence Life at Georgia State University—the position she held for the rest of her life.

She was dedicated to her work, but she lived a full and exciting life of joy and adventure. At one point, she considered making balloon animals as a career choice, but her practical nature won out. Nevertheless, she considered it. Travel was her passion. This world is large and she intended to see all of it. She traveled by sea, plane, train and even more exotic forms of locomotion like dragon boat. Her outlook combined whimsy with intellectual curiosity.

The only thing more open than her mind was her heart. On Christmas Eve, 2019 she met Nora Lewis on a dating app. Even though Nora lived four hours away in Atlanta, Morgan knew she had found her person. The two were wed in 2023 in Atlanta, the city they call their own. The couple soon bought a home and adopted a spotted pup called Franklin.

Morgan passed away on September 1, 2026, at the age of 43. Hers was a short life, but a good one brimming with love and purpose. She is preceded in death by her father John Gaines Murray. Left to cherish her memory are her wife Gwennora Lewis; her mother Kathy Ann Woodward Murray; her brother Sean Murray; her niece Makayla Halsey; and a host of family and friends.

A Celebration of Morgan's Life will be held at H.M. Patterson & Son-Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Road Ne, Sandy Springs, GA 30328, US, on September 12, 2026, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.

The celebration of life will be livestreamed beginning at 11:00 am.

Family will receive friends starting at 10:00 AM.

In honor of Morgan's vibrant spirit and joyful life, the family invites guests to wear colorful, bright, and cheerful attire to the Celebration of Life. Rather than traditional black, please choose colors that reflect the joy, warmth, and beauty that Morgan brought into the lives of others.

In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution to help support Morgan's family during this unimaginable time. https://gofund.me/d26a60c99