In Memory of

Helen

Louise

Murray

Obituary for Helen Louise Murray

Helen Louise Murray was born in West Point, Mississippi on June 30, 1947
to Van Edwards and Mary A. Edwards. She was one of 16 children born to
the Edwards family. At the age of 4, she was adopted by her maternal
Uncle Clinton and his wife Alberta Walker and moved to Stockton, CA. She
accepted the Lord at an early age and attended Greater Faith Missionary
Baptist Church where she was a choir member/director and led Bible
groups. While in Stockton, she attended Grant School, Stockton Junior
High and Edison High School. She graduated Edison High School in 1965,
where she met Marzell Murray. They were married in 1966 and had 3
children, Chantay Murray, Steven J. Murray and Chanel Denene Murray.
After completing high school, she attended the local college and eventually
transferred to University of the Pacific where she completed her bachelor’s
and master’s degrees in Education. While attending school she worked as
a teaching aid and eventually a teacher for Stockton Unified at Taylor and
Madison schools. She also taught at Lincoln High School and in Tracy
Unified School District. She made a significant impact on the lives of so
many students and colleagues. After many years of teaching K-12 she
aspired to teach in higher education. She started teaching at San Joaquin
Delta Community College where she developed reading programs and labs
for ESL students and taught English and reading courses. She was known
for her high standard, work ethic and willingness to help her students. She
expected greatness from her students but was compassionate and always
willing to help every student reach their full potential. She often entertained
at her home and students were often part of celebrations and became part
of the family.

She was a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. where she
chaired committees and held numerous leadership positions. She was
active in the community and fundraised for scholarships for graduating
seniors. She was a charter member of the Tracy Area Alumnae Chapter of
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. which is still active providing scholarships
and doing community service in Tracy and surrounding cities.

To know her was to know how much she enjoyed cooking/baking,
gardening, and most of all teaching. On weekends, you would find her in a
big brim straw hat in her garden or at the ranch working in the yard. She
loved planting gardens with melons, giant zucchini, various fruit trees,
sweet pea flowers, tulips and so much more. She enjoyed spending time
with family, Sorors, and neighbors. She enjoyed Jazz festivals, Greek
Festivals, playing softball, bowling and listening to music.
She was preceded in death by her parents Van and Mary A. Edwards,
Clinton J. and Alberta Walker, her spouse Marzell Murray, her brothers
Mack Arthur Edwards, Willie Frank Taylor, Johnny Lee Edwards and one
sister Georgia Anna Edwards, and one daughter Chantay M. Murray.
She leaves to cherish her memory: her two children Steven J. Murray and
Chanel Denene Murray; grandchildren Chanel L. Murray-Avery, Candice
Jardine Murray, Samantha L. Murray, and Steven A. Murray; great-
grandchildren Donovan J. Murray, Carter D. Avery, Lillian M. Avery and
Georgia S. Jardine; siblings Gusta Mae Howard, Elizabeth Johnson, Kattie
Cooperwood, Vendella Edwards, Cora Jane Edwards, Lucy Jane Evans,
Mary Lee Townsend, Jessie Mae Lloyd and a host of nieces, nephews,
extended family, friends, Sorors, and former students.