Betty Jean Murphy Anthony peacefully departed this life on Friday, February 26, 2010, at her home in Goodview, Va. She was born on July 28, 1935, to the late Eugene and Ida Murphy in Bedford County, Va. She was an active member of Green Spring Baptist Church until her health declined. Over the years at Green Spring Baptist Church she served as Church Clerk, member of the Deaconess Board, Senior Choir, Usher Board, Women's Auxiliary, treasurer, and participated in many other organizations. Betty was educated in Bedford County and graduated from Susie Gibson High School. She was devoted and happily married to Rufus A. Anthony for nearly 53 years. This union was blessed with four children. She was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Ida B. Murphy; and her brother, John Henry Murphy. Those left who will miss her dearly are her husband, Rufus A. Anthony; children, Ricky (Sarah) Anthony, Harvey Anthony, both of Roanoke, Va., Phillip Anthony and Benita Anthony, both of Goodview, Va.; two grandchildren, Shane Anthony, of California and Whitney Anthony, of Roanoke, Va.; siblings, Ida M. (Boyd) Garrett, of Huddleston, Va., David W. (Ellen) Murphy, of New Jersey, Billy (Barbara) Murphy, of Maryland, Frances E. Murphy, of Huddleston, Va., Beulah (Thomas) Ferguson, of Fredericksburg, Va., Lois (Andrew) Powell, of Roanoke, Va., Robert Murphy, of Salem, Va.; brother-in-law, Larry Anthony, of Roanoke, Va., and numerous other relatives, nieces, nephews, cousins, co-workers and friends. Funeral services will be held 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 3, 2010, at Green Spring Baptist Church with the Rev. Timothy Wright, officiating and the Rev. Floyd Gregory, eulogist. Interment will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, 2010 , at HamlarCurtis Funeral Home.
Published in Roanoke Times from February 28 to March 2, 2010