Serena Davis Murphy, 77
Mrs. Serena Davis Murphy, 77, of Adel, passed away at her home surrounded by her family on
Thursday, March 24, 2022. She was born June 27, 1944 in Valdosta, Georgia to the late Earl Scott Davis and Twila Chambers Davis. Serena resided in Adel most of her life, was a graduate from
Cook High School Class of 1962, and then attended Valdosta State College (VSC). Upon graduation from VSC, she became a teacher at Cook High School and also taught briefly at Richmond Hill High School. She retired in 2004 after devoting 37 years of teaching English and Literature and was the cheerleader sponsor for many years.
Serena was a member of First Baptist Church, Adel and attended ‘Sonshine Pals’. She was an active member of Cook Retired Educators, the Pilot Club of Adel, Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma Society and was a charter member of the Cook County Civitan Club. While in high school, her daughter Christy nominated her, and Serena was chosen as the first Southeastern Conference Y-Club Mother of the Year. In 2021, Serena and husband, Jimmy, were honored as Civitan’s Servant Heart Recipients. Serena traveled extensively with family, especially cruises and camping. She also traveled with other educators and Pilot Club Members to conferences and conventions all over the country including Off-Broadway Productions/Musicals and many other adventures.
She is survived by her husband of 44 years, James (Jimmy) Murphy of Adel; one sister and brother-in-law, Debra Davis and Reinhard Molgedei of Atlanta, GA; two daughters, Christy Adams Trimble of Hahira, GA and Casey Murphy of Valdosta, GA; four sons, Michael Adams and Scott Adams of Adel, GA, Jamie Murphy of D’Iberville, MS, and Christopher Murphy of Alexandria, VA; seven grandchildren: Whitney Adams Little and Kyler Adams, Ryker and Jacob Anderson, Shelby and Zachary Trimble, and Kaylin Murphy; three great-grandchildren: Harper and Mason Little, and Brysen Grant; also several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The funeral service for Mrs. Murphy was held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, March 27, 2022 at First Baptist Church of Adel with Rev. R.T. Castleberry, Rev. Doug Stevens and Rev. Neal Sweet officiating. Interment followed at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. Sheila Humber played piano for the service, Mary Sue Ward sang “It Is Well” and “In the Garden” and the congregation sang “Amazing Grace” led by Rev. Doug Stevens. Joe Haile, Gary Cooksey, David Taylor, Jeff Taylor, Michael Dinnerman, Don Huckaby and Dwayne Culpepper served as active pallbearers and members of the Pilot Club served as honorary pallbearers. The family received friends for visitation from 6:00 until 8:00 PM on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at Boone Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in her memory to: Serena Davis Murphy Memorial Scholarship in care of Cook County Educational Foundation, 1109 N. Parrish Ave. Adel, GA 31620; The GCS Project, 2795 Estates Drive, Park City, Utah 84060 (which supports Dr. Rebecca Arend’s cancer research at UAB Birmingham); Delta Kappa Gamma Future Educators Scholarship, 8581 Empress Road, Quitman, GA 31643 or Paypal Sigmadkg2020@gmail.com (please include “scholarship donation” in the notes).