04/03/2026
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Billy Hugh Murphy passed away at the Baptist Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi, on March 31, 2026, with his daughter holding his hand. Bill was born on March 10, 1937, in Leake County, Mississippi to Gustave and Montell Cook Murphy. Bill was the oldest of five, with an age gap of 19 years between he and his youngest sibling. After the untimely demise of their father, Bill gladly assumed the role of surrogate father for his three brothers and sister.
Bill graduated from Carthage High School in 1955. His family relocated to Georgia for his father’s job and Bill remained behind to graduate. It was fortuitous that he did as he met a spitfire of a girl named Marie Vowell. Bill always said that she was a tenacious basketball player and he was smitten from the start.
After graduation, Bill worked a few odd jobs before moving to Shreveport, Louisiana, to live with his maternal aunt and uncle. Bill was always a quick study and extremely good with his hands. He started working in an automotive repair shop, which was the start of a lifelong love of all things mechanical. In the meantime, Marie graduated from high school and three weeks later they were married and went to live in Shreveport. In 1959, their only child, Sandra Kay, was born.
The couple soon moved to Jackson, Mississippi, and Bill began his own business, Jackson Generator & Starter, Inc. The early days were lean, but this hardworking man built a thriving business. He also had a trucking business that he operated for many years.
Bill loved hunting just about anything, and fishing, particularly with his two best friends, Buddy Griffin and Wootsie Cenac. Their many adventures led to tall tales aplenty, especially if a good Scotch was involved. Bill loved to bushhog, to plant gardens, to build furniture, to eat and drink well, to pet his dogs, and to cook, but, more than anything, Bill was devoted to his family.
Bill, Marie, and Sandra were a team. He was very proud of Marie’s career at Bell South. During her younger years, Sandra was his constant companion. He made her breakfast and read the newspaper with her every morning. She was a Daddy’s girl through and through. He believed in her and told her there was nothing she couldn’t do. Bill allowed Sandra to marry a “Yankee boy” after she brought him home and he killed two deer the first time he ever went hunting. Jim Shelson was added to the home team and became a true son to him.
The greatest joys in Bill’s life were his granddaughter, Carlisle and grandson, Tucker. He literally lit up when he saw them. He was very proud of everything they did. He was a devoted soccer granddad, piano recital expert, and never missed a school play. Bill and Marie loved the spring break adventures, trips to the beach at Thanksgiving, and vacations they all took together.
Things Bill did not like: not being busy; throwing literally anything at all away; being told what to do; and his daughter’s liberal politics!
Bill weas larger than life. He could look and sound like a grizzly bear, but in reality, he was nothing but a big, ol’ teddy bear, so much so that his daughter called him Pappa Bear. Bill was resolutely loyal to his family, friends, neighbors and those he did business with.
Unfortunately, the later years were upended with the onset of Marie’s dementia. He cared for her at home for as long as it was possible. During this time, he was diagnosed with cancer. He fought a valiant battle until the end, rarely complaining and always bravely handling what came next. He hated having to rely on others and that was his greatest challenge over the last few months.
Bill was predeceased by his parents, his brothers, Gustave Murphy, Jr., and Eddie Murphy. He is survived by his wife, Marie, daughter, Sandra Shelson, son-in-law, Jim Shelson, (Jackson, MS), granddaughter, Carlisle Shelson (East Lansing, MI), and grandson, Tucker Shelson (New York, NY). He is also survived by his sister, Dinah Miller (Gary) and brother, Benny (Amanda), both of Brandon. He was fortunate to have many nieces and nephews whom he loved.
The family is grateful to his friends and neighbors who checked on him, his home health nurses, Ashely and Bree, and especially Jimmy Lee, who Bill fought with in place of Marie!
As his grandson said, he lived an enviable life. He lived large, loved deeply and lead by example with kindness, loyalty and love. His presence will never leave us and he will forever missed.
Services will be Saturday, April 4, 2026, at Wright & Ferguson, Flowood, MS. Visitation will begin at Noon, with the service at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be at Salem Baptist Church in Marydell, MS.
Memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society and the Alzheimer’s Association.
An online guestbook is available at www.wrightferguson.com
