Thomas L. Murphy

Thomas Lee Murphy, 73, passed away peacefully in his residence at the Solana of East Cobb on the morning of August 5, 2020. Born on April 1, 1947 at Georgia Baptist Hospital in Atlanta, Tom was the third child of the late Carl L. Murphy Jr, and Parielee (Towler) Murphy. His childhood home was the family’s farm in Red Oak, GA where he grew up in the close company of his large family, including many extended relatives. In his teens he was a stand-out athlete, playing high school football and basketball for Campbell of Fairburn. After graduating in 1965, Tom enrolled at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa where he completed his freshman year of study. Family responsibilities brought him back to Georgia for his sophomore year, where he matriculated at Georgia State University, earning his BA in 1969. He received his JD in 1972 from Emory University’s School of Law. That same year he joined the Atlanta law firm of Webb, Parker, Young & Ferguson, where he was eventually made a partner. This firm went on to become known as Webb, Young, Daniel and Murphy. For a significant portion of his career Tom was an employee of Fulton County, GA, working as a County Attorney. Throughout his professional life he was an active member of the Georgia Bar Association.

In addition to his parents, Thomas Murphy was predeceased by his brother Jesse Murphy. He is survived by his sister, Caren M. Blair and her husband Alton; his brother Wesley Murphy; his brother Emory Murphy and his wife Joyce; his daughter Mary M. Swerdloff, her husband Alan and their two children, Catherine and Andrew; His son Benjamin L. Murphy, his wife Lisa and their four children, Liam, Owen, Finn and Lila.

A true and faithful son of Georgia, Tom had a lifelong interest in learning, commemorating and preserving the history of his home state. He read extensively on the subject and maintained a large private collection of books about Georgia, including many rare volumes on a topic of special interest to him, the Civil War. In addition, Tom was concerned with the preservation of Georgia’s unspoiled natural spaces. He loved the land. Among the many gestures he made in support of this interest over the course of his adult life was a membership with the Georgia Conservancy. His children therefore request in lieu of flowers, that donations be made in Tom Murphy’s name to this non-profit organization: www.georgiaconservancy.org . There is a “donate” link on the
homepage of the website that will open a page for the purpose of making a donation.

Visitation and viewing will be held 2:00 P. M. - 3:30 P. M. on Sunday, August 9, 2020, at The Carter Funeral Home, 265 Highway 211 NW, Winder, GA 30680. A 4:00 P. M. graveside service will follow at Barrow Memorial Gardens, 793 Atlanta Hwy SE, Winder, GA 30680