Jacob Murray

Jacob  Murray was born in Eutawville, South Carolina on October 20, 1936, to  Jacob (Bootsie) and Mattie Murray.  He was predeceased by his parents, his siblings Elizabeth Mobley, and James (Ruth) Taylor, his brother in-love, Howard Buggs, his son, Elder Jacob F. Murray, his son-in-love, Nathaniel Abraham, and grandson, Joshua Murray.

Jacob spent his formative years in Vance, South Carolina attending local schools and First Baptist Church, where he was baptized.  He graduated from Roberts High School and moved to New Jersey to start his career.

In 1958, he married Cynthia (Marie) Shingler and they built a life together in New Jersey.  They became the proud parents of the Pastor James A. Murray, Evangelist Debra M. Abraham, Elder Jacob F. Murray, and Deacon Yolanda P. Caldwell.

He worked in the transportation industry in many capacities. He was a driver, dispatcher, supervisor, and mentor.  Jacob partnered with his brother to build a successful import and export trucking business in Manhattan, New York.  He worked alongside his brother until he retired.   Jacob worked as a SC corrections officer and in retirement, he worked at Hammond School in Columbia, South Carolina until diagnosed with prostate cancer.

As a man of faith, Jacob always attended church. He and his family were members of Roseville United Presbyterian Church in Newark, New Jersey where he was an elder until they relocated to South Carolina where he renewed his membership at First Baptist Church.  He also attended The Cathedral – Second Baptist Church in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Metropolitan NTM Baptist Church in Albany, New York,  God’s Church of Destiny in Lexington, South Carolina, and God’s Church of Deliverance in Columbia, South Carolina.

Murray as most of his friends called him was a quiet and jovial person. He loved family, he was loyal and a confidant to many. He enjoyed driving – he was an avid driver – his form of meditation.  Murray loved his children and grandchildren.  He drove many miles between Florida, South Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York to celebrate milestones and everyday life moments with his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and friends.  Murray enjoyed old school R&B and gospel music as well as a good meal. 

In retirement, Jacob lived in New York for a few years until he moved home to South Carolina.  He survived cancer and lived out the last years of his life battling Alzheimer’s disease. 

 He leaves to cherish his memory, his children James (Pleshette) Murray, Debra Abraham, and Yolanda (Sam) Caldwell, his sister, Catherine Buggs, his aunt Ollie Mae Wilson,  his grandchildren April Tyler, Trenicia Gerald, David Gerald, Alexis Murray, Bethany Caldwell, Cornelius Murray,  and Jonathan Caldwell, great-grandchildren  D’Aunte Gerald, Dionne Gerald, and Mackenzie Murray.  Close friends who will honor his memory are the mother of his children, Cynthia (Marie) Shingler, his godbrother Isaac Washington, and his cousin Rev. Jessie Jamison and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.  

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Not everyone can be famous but everybody can be great because greatness is determined by your service.  Dr. Martin Luther King

Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of Jacob Murray

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