RALEIGH

The Funeral Service will be Live streamed from Montlawn Funeral Home - Click Here

Will be viewable and active on 01/20/2022 - 15 Minutes before the service at 2:00 PM and will be available to re-watch at any time.

Sarah was born in High Point North Carolina August 31, 1927, to Sammy Walter Jessup and Roxie Novella Jessup.  She was an 11-year graduate of High Point Central High School.  Sarah also earned a business degree from Brice Commercial College beginning a long career as an administrative assistant.

Sarah met and married Raeford Kenneth Murphy of Thomasville.  She gave birth to two girls, Lynn and Marcie before the family moved from Thomasville to Raleigh, NC for Raeford's job.  Sarah gave birth to Ken and completed their nuclear family while in Raleigh.  They raised their family in the Longview Gardens area.

Sarah worked with Colonial Stores and eventually the General Assembly of NC in the Senate.  She was active in the community serving in several capacities with The Girl Scouts of America, and as a member of the Longview United Methodist Church Choir.  She was a lifelong member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority.

Sarah is survived by her three children Lynn Murphy Lye (husband Gordon Lye), Marcie Murphy Nanney (husband Mark Nanney) and Raeford Kenneth Murphy, Jr. (wife Susan Lloyd Murphy).

She is also survived by eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren: Kristen Lye Peele children (Ephraim, Wyatt, and Hanna), Jeffrey Gordon Lye (wife Tori and children Brooks, Cora and Lucy), Matthew Mark Nanney (wife Emily and children Asher and Atlas), Erinn Marcella Nanney Long (husband Mike and children Rheya, Robyn, and Ruth), and grand-children Mary, Daniel, Hailey and Ryan Murphy.  Also surviving are her sister, Becky Swanger of Durham, 7 nieces, 5 nephews and several great-nieces and nephews.

Sarah was currently a member of St. James United Methodist Church where she found a welcoming, loving, and supportive congregation as well as the Ivy Hall Community where she received the caring support from neighbors and friends.

After a battle with infection and pneumonia, her 94-year-old body could no longer fight. We grieve her loss however we were happy to see that her pain and suffering are gone as she died quietly in the arms of God.

All services will take place at Montlawn Funeral Home 2911 S Wilmington St Raleigh, NC on Thursday, January 13, 2022.

The family will receive friends from 12:30 PM – 1:50 PM. A service to celebrate her life, officiated by her pastor, The Reverend Kim Lamb, will begin at 2:00 PM in the chapel with burial to follow in Montlawn Memorial Park.

Instead of flowers the family requests donations be made to:

St. James United Methodist Church, PO Box 40100, Raleigh, NC 27629

Or

Transitions Life Care, Philanthropy Dept., 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607         transitionslifecare.org/donate