Carl Edward Murphy Smith, oldest great grandson of AFRO founder, John H. Murphy Sr., died Dec. 15 after a long illness. The Baltimore native and Morgan State University graduate spent most of his career with Bell Atlantic and Verizon, and was an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Over the years Smith served as a member of the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce Board, Chairman of the Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse, Vice Chairman of the Baltimore City Planning Commission, The Baltimore City Social Services Commission and the Governor’s Commission on Physical Fitness. Smith also coached basketball in the Project Survival Youth Program.
Carl Edward Murphy Smith (Photo credit: Jackie Van Ly)
He was much more than a mere cousin, it was said of Smith who had the distinction of having been among the oldest of the Murphy cousins. “He was the big cousin we all looked up to,“ said the Rev. Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, pastor of Freedom Temple AME Zion Church. “He was a faithful friend who cherished our family.”
Another cousin, Robert Murphy Matthews Sr. called him, “our go-to guy for Murphy family history,” also remembering Smith as “all our babysitter.”
The brother of AME Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Smith also is the father of, Qiana Jehan Murphy Smith, Jonee’ Murphy Coates Brown, Michelle Denise Howard and Blair Carl Murphy Smith. He is a former member of the AFRO American Newspapers board of directors.
“An initial Celebration of Life Service for Carl Edward Murphy Smith will be held on Thursday, January 4, 2018 (Smith’s birthday) at The Clubs at St. James, 3779 Members Club Blvd, Southport , NC 28461. For more information, please call Blair Carl Murphy Smith at (917) 608-3994.
A second Celebration of Life Service will be held in Baltimore beginning on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at 11 a.m. for the family hour, with the service following at noon, at Payne Memorial AME Church, 1714 Madison Ave,. Baltimore MD 21217”
