PORTSMOUTH—Julia Mae Murphy, 98, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. She was born on May 26, 1919 to the late Willie and Julia Darden Murphy. Julia graduated from James Madison University, received her master’s from the College of William and Mary and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She was a teacher in Norfolk County for 20 years and an elementary supervisor and a principal for the Hampton public school system, where she retired. 

In addition to her parents, Julia was preceded by two sisters, Mary Jane Murphy and Lucile Murphy; and a brother, Willie Thomas Murphy. 

She is survived by a sister, Dean Murphy Gilmore; two nieces, Cynthia Gilmore Barnes and Judy Murphy Arnold and her husband, Don; three nephews, Willie Carl Gilmore and wife, Mary, Christopher Allen Gilmore and wife, Erica, and Thomas J. Murphy; three great-nieces, Jennifer Gilmore, Cecilla Trautz and Cosby Arnold; three great-nephews, Cody Barnes, Zachary Gilmore and Hayes Arnold; and a great-great niece, Carleigh Trautz. 

A graveside service was held Aug. 14 in St. Luke’s Cemetery, Suffolk. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Centenary United Methodist Church children’s ministry. 
Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Blvd. Chapel is handling the arrangements.