Uncrowned Community Builders

Clyde Wilkins Boddie Murphy, the daughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. Julian Franklin Boddie, was born in Milledgeville, Georgia. She graduated from Eddy High School in Milledgeville then attended West Virginia State College where she received a BA in Elementary Education in 1942. In 1944 she attended Atlanta University where she earned a MA in Social Work and in 1978 she received an Ed.M. in Early Childhood Education from the University at Buffalo.

Clyde married Dr. Benjamin Franklin Murphy in 1945. Dr. Murphy was well known and respected as an excellent and caring physician. During their marriage of 54 years Clyde and Frank were blessed with three children: Clyde Edith, a lawyer; Pamela Elizabeth, a school psychologist; and Benjamin Franklin III, a child protection case manager; and two grandchildren: Damani Benjamin Johnson and Elizabeth Murphy.

Over her career history Clyde Murphy held a number of positions in the social work and education fields. She served as a social worker helping pregnant teenagers at the Salvation Army Booth Memorial Hospital. She held a position at the University at Buffalo, School of Nursing where she was given the responsibility of ensuring the academic success of minority nursing students. She served as a part-time instructor in Education at Buffalo State College and Erie Community College. She also held the position of Supervising Teacher at the Community Action Organization of Erie County, Inc. (CAO) Head Start for a number of years. Finally, she served as a certified School Social Worker with the Buffalo Board of Education until her retirement in 1988.

Clyde Murphy had been actively involved in the community throughout her life. She served on numerous boards including: Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinic; Erie County Mental Health Association; YWCA; United Way; the Urban League, and the NAACP ACT-SO. She volunteered with the American Red Cross, served on the United Way allocation and admission committees, been chairperson of the Urban League scholarship committee, and served as general chairperson of the Western New York United Negro College Fund (UNCF).

She volunteered with the Council of Churches Food Pantry, Children's Defense Fund Interfaith Sabbath, Western New York Crop Walk, and the Buffalo Chapter of Girl Friends, Inc. School #17 Project.

She was a previous member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Women's Auxiliary of the Medical Alliance, League of Women Voters, and the American Association of University Women. She was a charter member of the Buffalo Chapter of Girl Friends, Inc. and has served as its president and Conclave co-chairperson.

Clyde was an avid bridge enthusiast and played bridge and duplicate bridge with several groups. In addition, she had interests in music, art, golf, reading, and gardening.

Mrs. Murphy was raised in the African Methodist Episcopal tradition in Milledgeville, Georgia. In Buffalo, she was an active member of Lincoln Memorial United Methodist Church since 1947. As a church member she had been President of the United Methodist Women, and served on the trustee board and finance committee. She is served on the Buffalo District United Methodist Women Project committee and the Lincoln United Methodist Church Out-Reach committee.

Her awards include the following: Buffalo Urban League Volunteer Award; UNCF Appreciation Award; Community service Award of the Year from the Black Educators Association of Western New York; Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Award for Guidance and Direction; UNCF Meritorious Service Award and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Task Force Head Start.

Her husband of 55 years, Dr. Benjamin F. Murphy, Jr., died in 2000.

At the time of her death, Mrs. Murphy was 94 years old. Ironically, she died on the same day as her sister-in-law, Parmalier D. Murphy.