Morgan Grier Murphy Obituary

Mr. Morgan Grier Murphy, 78 of Westgate Dr. in Albany died July 20, 2007 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. A native of Arlington, Ga., Mr. Murphy has lived in Albany since 1943 and was a member of First United Methodist Church. He had a very strong faith and loved serving his church in many capacities through the years. Survivors include his wife Jacolyn Holland Murphy of Albany, sons, Morgan Stanford Murphy (wife Gail) of Macon, GA, Mark Randall Murphy (wife Bea) and David Kelly Murphy of Albany, Ga., daughter, Cherie Murphy Holderness (husband Hayes) of Greensboro, NC, grandchildren, Morgan Deidre Murphy, Hayes Holderness, Jr., Henry Holderness, Murphy Holderness, Emily Murphy, Ashley Murphy, Mary Katherine Murphy, Kelli Murphy and Morgan Grier Murphy, II, brother, P. Melvyn Murphy (wife Mizelle) of Albany, and brother-in-law Ned Holland of Gainesville, Fla.. Mr. Murphy was devoted to his family and especially enjoyed spending time with his nine grandchildren. Mr. Murphy was an avid sportsman and was particularly passionate about hunting, fishing, and golf, and the many wonderful friendships he gained through these activities. Whether on the golf course, in hunting fields, or in a corporate boardroom, his warmth with and trust for other people enabled him to bring people together for the betterment of our community. Mr. Murphy was a graduate of Albany High School, Brevard College in Brevard, NC (recipient, Distinguished Alumni Award), and a graduate of the School of Banking at LSU. He served his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict and had an exceptional career in banking Mr. Murphy's illustrious career began with The Bank of Albany, Albany, GA in 1949, and continued with First State Bank & Trust Co., 1950, U.S. Air Force, 1950-1954, and First State Bank & Trust Co. (FSBT) beginning in 1954. In 1972 he was named President & CEO of FSBT, and he became President & CEO of First State Corporation at the time it was organized in 1981. In 1993 he was named Chairman of the Board. When First State Corp merged with Regions Bank in 1998, Mr. Murphy was named Chairman of Regions Bank of South Georgia. Mr. Murphy served on many boards including GA Chamber of Commerce, Norfolk Southern Railroad Advisory Board, Cherokee National Life Insurance Co., CNL/Insurance America, Inc., and CNL/Resource Marketing Corporation. He loved Albany and Dougherty County and unselfishly gave of his time to numerous civic and community organizations. At the time of his death he was still involved with One Albany (a group addressing diversity issues in our community), Albany Tomorrow (a conduit to bring together the private and public sector in a Joint effort to revitalize Albany and the Flint River in the area between Chehaw Park and Radium Springs), Year Of the River Steering Committee, Albany Rotary Club (where he was a Paul Harris Fellow), Georgians for Better Transportation Exec. Committee, Metro Atlanta Water Quality Initiative, Chairman Southwest Georgia Water Resource Task Force, Chairman Drugs Don't Work State of Georgia, Ga. Bankers Assn., Bank Pac Committee, and The Secret Gridiron Society of UGA. His past civic leadership roles included Chairman Dougherty County Board of Education (12 year Board Member), Past President Albany Chamber of Commerce, Chairman Governmental Affairs Committee, Military Affairs Committee and Industrial Development Committee, Past Vice Chairman, Ga. Chamber of Commerce & Member of executive committee, Bd. of Directors & Exec. Comm., Albany Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Ga. Bankers Assn. (Chairman 1992-1993), Past President of the Albany Rotary Club, Past President Albany Jaycees and recipient of Albany's "Young Man of the Year" award, Past member administrative board at First United Methodist Church, Past member Small Business Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Albany YMCA Board Member (10 years), Public Affairs Sub Committee (dealing with interstate and intrastate ban

Morgan Grier Murphy Obituary

July 18, 1929 - July 20, 2007