January 29, 1968 – September 17, 2024
On January 29, 1968, in Tulsa, the late Donald Ray Murphy, Sr. and Rebecca Lee (Griffin) Murphy were blessed with a set of twin boys; one was stillborn and the other they named Johnnie Lee Murphy. Johnnie grew up in various towns and cities in Kansas and in Oklahoma. Johnnie attended high school in Okmulgee and, once he became an adult, he worked at Sunoco Foundry and Big Four.
John united in marriage to Talesa Samuel in 2006, with this marriage John was blessed with a son, Moses Isokariari and in addition they were blessed with Dallas Johnathan and Annalea Rebecca Murphy.
John accepted Christ at an early age in Kansas City, Kansas at the Guiding Star Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor West. John was licensed in 1995 by Revered E. E. Washington and in 1996 he was ordained by the late Pastor Dr. David Burks, Jr. He later pastored numerous churches, Historic First Baptist Church of Fort Gipson, 12th Street Baptist Church, Coffeeville, Kansas and Saint John Baptist Church, Tulsa.
He was presently a member of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Okmulgee. He answered and surrendered to God’s call on September 17, 2024, in Tulsa.
Rev. Johnnie was preceded in death by his wife Talesa, father, Donald Ray Murphy, Sr., mother, Rebecca Carter, his twin, grandfather and grandmother Ware Griffin and Christine Fields, grandfather and grandmother Willie Murphy and Florence Goudeau Reed.
He leaves to cherish his sons, Moses Isokariari and Dallas; his daughter, Annalea; his companion, Julie Sanders; six siblings, Charles Griffin of Kansas City, Mo., Donald Ray (Latonya) Murphy, Jr. of Claremore, LeeEtta Anderson of Owasso, Galian L. ( Wilma) Murphy of Glenpool, Rosalind (Patrick) Ceaser of Houston and Amber Murphy of Tulsa; his Uncle Grant (Star) Griffin, who help raise him, of Okmulgee, his Uncle James (Teresa) Reed, Louisville, Ky., Aunt Ruby Crouder of Okmulgee, Aunt Ella Griffin of Okmulgee, Aunt Shirley (Robert) Wheatley of Vallejo, Calif., Aunt Florence Marie Reed of Tulsa, Donna Irving of Dallas; and a host of nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces and friends.
The Celebratory Hour of Tribute will commence on Sunday afternoon in the most holy sanctuary of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Dr. Douglas Currington, Senior Pastor, will preside.
The Christian Committal will be held Monday, September 23, 2024, at 10 a.m. on the sacred grounds of Woodlawn Cemetery in Okmulgee.
You may visit Rev. Murphy as he slumbers in peaceful repose at Keith D. Biglow Funeral Directors, Inc. of Okmulgee on Saturday, between the hours of 3-5 p.m.
