Mrs. Audrey (Rearden) Murray

“I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” -Psalm 55:6

Audrey Rearden-Murray was born June 5, 1963 as the eldest daughter of the late Ruthie M Brooks
Rearden and Norris O. Rearden in Walterboro SC.
Mrs Rearden-Murray was educated in Colleton County public schools graduating from Colleton High
School in 1980 and then attending, graduating and receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from
Winthrop University in 1984.

From an early age, Mrs. Rearden-Murray would be found closely tied to her mother Mrs Ruthie Rearden
traveling around town running errands, visiting family, supporting the community, and participating in
civic matters. This rooted her sense of SERVICE. Being Baptized as a young girl, Mrs. Rearden-Murray
could also be found with her mother supporting her church Mt. Olive Baptist on many occasions. Her
mother, Aunts, Uncles, and elders instilled strong values of FAITH which she carried throughout her life.
She spent great times with her cousins as a young girl cementing her strength of FAMILY.
As a young woman Mrs. Rearden Murray decided to attend college and enroll at Winthrop University.
At Winthrop, she would meet lifelong friends Brenda Mingo, Marsha Bright, and Gretchen Bennett who
would be her posse and confidants. She was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
Incorporated. She would be as much of an influence on steadiness, how to keep family first, and stay
out of trouble, as they had on her to have fun and enjoy her college experience. It was there that taking
naps and making sure she got AMPLE sleep became not only a benefit but a requirement!
Following her College Education, Mrs. Rearden-Murray returned to Walterboro and eventually began
working in Hampton County in Child Support Services, a career path that would span 30 plus years in the
States of South Carolina and North Carolina. She could also be seen during this period non-stop with her
mother or her neighbor Florence Pinckney once again shopping, and traveling from one place to the
other, or supporting her sister Dr. Gail Rearden in her many young endeavors including the Walterboro
High School Band. She also diligently helped at her mother’s flower shop Margaret’s Florists. She never
forgot to connect with her relatives, spending time with her her neighbors who also helped to mold and
shape her, or call up friends just to say “what you doin!!!” She never missed a chance to jump in the car
and putt-putt down the road, but always with a sense of FAITH, FAMILY, and SERVICE.
In 1996 she got married and soon took on the greatest reward of her life, being a mother to her two
children. Always on the go, you could hear her calling her young kids and saying “Let’s go chickedees”.
If you were ever on the phone with her and it was time to take her daughter Taylor to Dance practice, it
was a short conversation…”I gotta take this girl, I will talk to YOU later”. Her children became her
priority, yet she never neglected her other family and relatives. Every week seemingly Mrs. Rearden-
Murray would be on the phone giving a run down on her kids, and getting the family “tea” from one
relative or another….then of course, she gotta take that nap. Nurturing, loving, and kind, but always
focused on FAMILY. The running tale in the family was that her sister Dr Gail Rearden rubbed her belly
SO MUCH when she was pregnant with Taylor, that she came out looking JUST LIKE them. They look like
sisters to this day, and the “spitting image” of Ms. Ruthie M Rearden. She left such an impact, her son
Chandler would never forget to compliment her mother seemingly on a daily basis “Good morning

momma, you look nice today”, or her daughter Taylor reminding her dad “we are like TWONE
Daddy…Twins so close, we are like two in one. Strong genes, strong conviction, strong spirit.

During the times while she was raising her children and working diligently, Mrs. Rearden-Murray both
maintained and developed deep long lasting relationships with two special women who had as much as
an impact on her and she had on them. Brenda Mingo and the late Arylette Brown would be her
partners in crime spending time with her almost every day. Not too be outdone, her co-workers, now at
the Mecklenburg County Child Support Enforcement Office, would become her extended family and
would be in contact with her about almost anything with her regularly. Mrs. Rearden-Murray could be
heard encouraging her co-workers late in the day “Look , it’s time to go y’all, I’m tired. These people
crazy”. She was as loyal a friend as she was a family member. Her co-workers would then join her yearly
at the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure for Breast Cancer Research. Mrs. Rearden-Murray and a dozen
grown women in Tu-Tu’s at a 2k walk/run showing solidarity for Breast Cancer Research…LAWD.

Mrs Rearden-Murray was always available to celebrate milestones, like her sisters graduation from
Medical School and the many family birthdays, in person or not. She could also be found providing any
support role as needed during either the Brooks-Wineglass or Rearden family Reunions. Always the
practical servant you could hear her sharing with her family “Look, if we gonna do this, lets get it right”,
but she never wavered in her support.
Over the years tragedy would strike repeatedly to test her resolve but never broke her spirit and her
strength. Mrs Rearden-Murray, her father Mr Norris Rearden, and her sister Dr. Gail Rearden
steadfastly cared for her mother and left no stone unturned in providing her care and support before
her passing in 2009. Even during those times, she never relented in making sure she reached out to her
Aunts Celia, Dorothy, and Eleanor and touching bases with all her neighbors, and many cousins on BOTH
sides of the family. “Just checking with you all to see how you doing” was a common greeting and
voicemail.

In 2012 Mrs Rearden-Murray was challenged with a diagnosis of Breast Cancer which eventually
metastasized. After a yearlong treatment, her father passed unexpectedly. While challenging and
painful, Mrs Rearden-Murray leaned on her never ending FAITH, love of her FAMILY, focus on her
wellness, and SERVICE to others. For many years you would never know she was battling cancer, and
that is JUST how she liked it. You could hear her responding to her husband about going up and down
the road…”You going BACK out??”, to which she would respond in one of her favorite phrases
“Whatever!!” Her relationship with her family became stronger than ever before, and her Big Sister,
Part-Time-Mother, and Best-Friend relationship with her sister Dr Gail Rearden is the stuff of legend and
a true model of love and consistency. If anyone could slow Dr Rearden down, everyone knew it would
be her. Mrs Rearden-Murray worked tirelessly for her family, her children, her friends, and the people
for which she was of service, but served God the most. She fought a 10 year battle with cancer and
never complained and always kept the faith, strong as an Old Oak Tree. Even through her challenges

she always checked on her loved ones, raised her kids in spectacular fashion, and was a loving wife,
sister, daughter, niece, and cousin. Her body gave out before her spirit gave in.

Mrs. Rearden-Murray placed Faith, Family, and Service at the forefront of her life and was a consistent
model of kindness, steadiness, compassion, loyalty, and resilience.
Mrs. Rearden-Murray leaves to cherish her memories her husband Derrick Murray, two children
Chandler D Murray and Taylor N Murray of Charlotte, NC; one sister Dr Gail L Rearden of Walterboro SC;
two Uncle Harrison (Alethea) Rearden of Columbia SC and Wille (Lillie Mae) Brooks of New York, NY;
Aunts Dorothy (Robert) Ferette and Eleanor Brooks of Walterboro SC; three sisters-in law, Nicole Moore
of Cary, NC, Donna (Marvin) Fleming of Charleston SC, and Dalphine Mays of New York, NY; One
brother-in-Law, Milton Moore of Cary, NC; Special Sisters Brenda Mingo and Reta House of Charlotte,
NC; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, classmates, co-workers and friends that have been impacted
by her love and spirit and will miss her tremendously
.

She is smiling now with no pain, and welcomed in heaven with her mother, father, Aunt Celia, Arylette,
Janie Ruth, and a host of loved ones. We love you and will miss you

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation for Breast Cancer Research in memory of Mrs. Rearden-Murray.

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