Betty Jane Murphey

Betty Stewart Murphey of Springfield, TN, passed from this world into heaven to be with her dear Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, on November 3, 2026. She was 95 years old.

Mrs. Murphey was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil X. Murphey, who went to be with the Lord October 30, 2013. She was born in Memphis, TN, on June 28, 1931, to Lester Stewart and Margie Tedford Stewart.

During her high school years, a friend invited her to a home Bible study. It was there she heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, dying on the cross for the sins of the world. As a direct result of that Bible study, she placed her trust in Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and was gloriously born again.

She met Virgil, her future husband, while they were attending Mid-South Bible Institute, in Memphis. They fell in love and were married on July 12, 1953, and God blessed their marriage with two children: Anna Elizabeth (“Holly”), and Timothy Virgil.

Mrs. Murphey was a talented seamstress and a wonderful cook. Alongside her husband, an ordained minister of the Gospel, she served as a missionary to a Native American tribe in Northern Arizona. Occasionally she sang duets with her husband in church. Through the years she taught children in Sunday schools and in Child Evangelism Fellowship classes. She also taught ladies’ adult Sunday school classes. But her favorite activity was spending time with her husband Virgil.

Mrs. Murphey is survived by her daughter Holly, and son Timothy (Stacey); granddaughter Stephanie Staton Smalley (Adam); grandson Daniel Staton; and 5 great grandchildren: Claire, Evelyn, Nora, Ruby, and Anne.

The family requests that any donations be directed to the Wounded Warrior Project, since Virgil Murphey was a veteran of World War II.

A Service of Remembrance will be held at the Peebles Main Funeral Chapel in Somerville, TN, on Thursday, November 12, 2026 with her son, Timothy Murphey officiating. Visitation will be from 12:30 until 2:30 PM with the service immediately following. Interment will follow at Hood Cemetery. There will be no graveside service.