Rhoda Laveda Gillis Murphy of Waynesboro, Tennessee, formerly of Collinwood, Tennessee, was born February 5, 1932 at Lutts, Tennessee, daughter of the late James Thomas and Susan Artie Rich Gillis. She was united in marriage to Seab Murphy, Jr. on March 8, 1958 and he preceded her in death on December 6, 2004. She was a retired cook at Collinwood High School and a member of the Piney Grove Freewill Baptist Church in Cypress Inn, Tennessee. She departed this life on Monday, January 2, 2023 at her residence in Waynesboro, Tennessee at the age of 90 years, 10 months, 28 days.
She is survived by her son, Jerry Murphy and wife, Lesha of Dora, Alabama and her daughter, Sherry Murphy of Waynesboro, Tennessee; grandson, Alex Murphy; sisters-in-law Bobbie Franks (Bob), Shirley Brown (Jerry), and Mary Moore (Dewey); nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by her siblings: Lora Bevis, Ira Gillis, Irene Gillis, Coy Gillis, James Gillis, Iva Nora Bratton and Elvesta Murphy.
Services were held Friday, January 6, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Shackelford Funeral Directors in Collinwood, Tennessee, with Greg Eaton, Camryn Eaton, and Stephen Stults officiating. Burial followed at Piney Grove Cemetery with Shackelford Funeral Directors assisting the family.
Pallbearers were Stan Bevis, Chason Bratton, Evan Threet, Darin Staggs, Stacy Doyle, Derrick Keeton, Greg Thompson, and Don Byrum, with Sonny Bratton and Brian McManus serving as honorary pallbearers.
