Lydia R

Murphy

Reflection of Life

Lydia Ruth Murphy was born on August 30, 1940, in Spartanburg, South Carolina to the late Lydia and Eugene Arthur Anderson. She was the second of their seven children whom they raised in Asbury Park, New Jersey. She attended the Asbury Park Public School system, something Lydia took great pride in. She loved growing up there and the life lessons she learned. While staying with her aunt in The Bronx, she graduated from Morris High School, then followed her sister, Amy, to East Rutherford, NJ. She met and married John Francis Murphy, Sr. moving to Hackensack, NJ where she raised her children and resided for many years, and finally living in Teaneck, NJ.

Lydia was baptized at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in Asbury Park, NJ at an early age. She later joined First Baptist Church of Nutley, NJ under Pastor Lawrence Roberts. She enjoyed the fellowship of his ministry for over twenty years. Attending First Baptist with her sister was the highlight of her life. Lydia was an avid reader of the Bible and would often quote scriptures. She lived and loved the word of God.

Lydia was a graduate of Fairleigh Dickerson University (Teaneck, NJ) where she received her Bachelor in social work (BSW) (1981), she was certified and licensed prior to graduating. She was employed for over thirty years with the  Bergen County Division of Family Guidance. Upon her retirement, she was a Program Manager at the Visions Transitional Living program in Hackensack. Helping out those who were less fortunate was her passion. She had fond memories of her co-workers and the youth that she served faithful.

Lydia loved her family, she was often the griot of the Anderson family who remembered all birthdays, genealogy, and family lore. She loved a good cup of coffee and a conversation. She took great pride in raising her children, Seneca, Todd, and Lisa, and later in life, her grandchildren, Ajare and Bryan. She was a fashionista who took great pride in her hair, nails, and dress. She lived a life full of love and laughter.

Lydia is preceded in death by her sisters; Amy Jo, Margaret Jean, Georgia, and her brothers, Jerry and Eugene, Jr. Her husband, John Francis, and daughter, Seneca.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, John Jr. (PA), Todd (Donna) and Lisa (Teaneck), her nephew, Alan (Englewood),  her brother, Rufus Anderson (Philadelphia, PA), her grandchildren, Duane (PA), Michael (El Paso, TX), William (PA), Ajare, and Bryan (Teaneck), a maternal aunt, Sarah Anderson (Spartanburg, SC), a favorite cousin, Linda Memminger (Brooklyn, NY), one life long sistah, Cora Davis (Englewood) and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.