Sharon Marie Murphy

On Thursday, May 20, 2021 this world lost an angel. Sharon Marie Murphy, devoted and loving wife and mother of three, departed from this earth and entered into eternal life at the age of 69.

Sharon was born the eldest child of Margaret and Clarence Parker on December 1, 1951 in Newport News, VA. She graduated from Carver High School in 1970. She started her first job working at Bendix Corporation. Not soon after she married her high school sweetheart Thomas Johnson. Together they raised a son and a daughter, Arnaz Johnson and Nicole Rorie. Later in life, she met and married her lasting love, Johnny Murphy. This blessed union produced their son, Juwan Kareem Murphy.

To all that knew her, Sharon was, above all, sweet and kind as well as a devout and devoted Christian for the greater part of her life. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at a very early age under the tutelage of Pastor Preston Hayes at Second Baptist Church in Newport News, VA. She later resubmitted her life to Christ in 1981 at the Greater Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Mount Clemens, MI under Bishop Joseph D. Wiley. While living in Orlando, She and her FL family found another supportive church home at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church under Pastor Charles Jones where she resided until her passing.

Pastor Jones often called Sharon his "third row cheerleader", the one that he could ALWAYS depend on to say a supportive Amen or Hallelujah! Her love of God and scripture inspired her to go back to school and receive a certificate in Ministerial Studies at House of David Ministries in 2013. When she retired from Orlando Sentinel in 2014 after 10 years of service, she devoted all her free time to learning more about the ministry and how to spiritually guide others.

Sharon's true devotion showed in everything that she did. She unconditionally loved the Lord and her family and showed loyalty to them both with unwavering love, commitment and sacrifice. After losing her parents early in life she was selflessly placed at the head of the Parker family as the matriarch as well as the adoptive parent to her two younger sisters. This altruistic act is just one example of her true heart and pure spirit. It was consistently evident to all who knew Sharon that she constantly gave of herself and her time, whether it was listening with an open heart and mind or just giving peace and comfort through her words or certain scriptures. This is something that just came natural to her. She didn't ask for much but her capacity to give was unwavering and steadfast. Sharon's innocence and kindness lives on in her family and everyone that had the pleasure of crossing her path. To say she will be missed is an understatement.

Sharon is preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Margaret Parker and sister Gloria Parker.

Sharon leaves to celebrate her life: Her devoted husband of twenty-eight years Johnny Murphy, Orlando, FL; Her three children: son Arnaz Johnson (Cassandra), of Shreveport, LA, Daughter Nicole Rorie (Leon) of Clarksville, TN and youngest son Juwan Murphy of Orlando, FL; Grandchildren: Kevin, Kemari, Kamron, Kaelyn, Ayanna, Colby, Charmenya and Derrick; great grandchildren McKinley, Cameron, Cairo and Cailyn; Two sisters: Virgina Diane Parker ( Mt. Clemens, MI) and Roberta Parker (Oakland, CA); Nieces and nephews: Jasmine Parker, Anthony Parker and Tiarra Parker-Horn; First and second cousins Regina and Jasmine Owens and Fred Barnes (VA) and a host of other cousins, relatives, friends and extended family who loved and cherished her deeply.

Services will be held at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions, East Orlando Chapel on Thursday, May 27. The family will receive friends from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM with funeral service to follow at 11:30 AM. Interment will follow the service at 2:15 PM at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims, FL.