Rosie Lee (Nelson) Murphy

Mrs. Rosie Lee Murphy, daughter to the late Forrest Nelson and Louiser Witt Lockett, was born February 14, 1933 in Selma, Alabama. 

She graduated from Keith High School and attended Birmingham Public School’s Department of Vocational Education. She was a gifted seamstress and worked for Parisian’s for 27 years in men’s alterations.

She professed her faith in Jesus Christ and was a member of True Love Church. She was a great baker and was known for her Bundt pound cake with the “orange juice icing”. She could often be found tending to her garden, upholstering, and thrifting.

She was united in holy matrimony to David Lee Murphy in 1974. This union was a blended one and they were blessed with 13 children. David Lee Murphy preceded her in death in 2006.

She was preceded in death by her children: Walter and David; her grandson: Enza; and 9 siblings.

Her memory will forever be cherished in the lives of her children: Ernest (Jewel) Watts Jr., Christine Watts Bembo, Leona (William) Patton, Linda Cosby, Jeanette Watts Vinson, Douglas (Lisa) Murphy, Vera (Gary) Murphy Craig, Patricia Ann Duncan, Valerie Hawkins, Rodell Murphy, and Mary Murphy; siblings: Beulah Mae, Jake, Johnny, Missouri, Benjamin (Parthenia), Magnolia (Landall), Barbara, Bernard, and a special sister-in-law Eunice; grandchildren: Porcha, Reginald, LaToya, Harold, Janese, LaKindra (Mitchell), Brandon, Gavin, Payton, Kevin, Kizzie, George, Tamesha, Laquandra, Angela, and Dexter; honorary children: Beverly, Teresa, Bill, Thelma, Alfreda, Clyde, Mary, Andre, Barbara, Zoe, Wanda, Patricia, Pamela, and Shirley; special friend: Mattie Davis; numerous great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

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