Jewell Maxine Murphy

Jewell Maxine Murphy, 88, of Colonial Heights, Virginia departed this life on January 14, 2024 surrounded by her children. She was born May 2, 1935 in Brodhead, Kentucky to the late Pete and Elizabeth Burke.

After graduating from high school, she joined the Women’s Army Corps and was stationed at Fort Lee, Virginia, where she met her future husband, John “Jack” Murphy. Together they had three amazing sons. Jewell was an avid sports fan and loved attending her son’s sporting events. In her later years she loved cheering on Phil Mikelson and was thrilled to receive an autographed picture from him one year on her birthday. She especially loved her eight o’clock coffee, Kroger half & half, shopping, trivia, her grand dogs, and watching Fox News, but her greatest joy was spending time with her six grandchildren, who were the light of her life.

Besides her parents, Jewell was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; seven brothers, Bud, Ed, Paris, Jay, Pete Jr., Bobby, and Glen; and three sisters, Rosa Lee, Ella May, and Dorothy.

Those left to celebrate her life are her baby sister, Shirley Ann Smith of Crab Orchard, Kentucky; three sons, John (Sarah), Michael (Jo), Anthony (Stephanie); and six grandchildren, William (Bayley), Benjamin (Kylie), Nancy (Benny), Thomas (Catherine), Meredith Ray (Andrew), and Caroline; brother-in-law, Thomas Romanko (Ellen) of Florida; sister-in-law, Nancy Murphy of New York; as well as several nieces and nephews; and special friends, Cathi Pastore, and Kathy Fite. The family would like to especially thank Amedisys Hospice for the outstanding care they provided in her final weeks.

A memorial mass will be held on Monday, February 5, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. at St. Jospeh’s Catholic Church, 151 W. Washinton Street, Petersburg, Virginia, 23803. Interment will be private. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Colonial Heights Chapel of E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes and Crematory, 2033 Boulevard.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in honor of Caroline Murphy. Online condolences may be registered at ealvinsmall.com