Helen H. Murray

Helen Purdy Holloway Murray, 71 , died Friday, November 3, 2017 after being diagno sed with lung cancer in March. S he was the daughter of the late Claude Robert Holloway , Jr. and Rose Purdy Holloway. Born November 5, 1945, in Monroe , NC, she was raised in Bennettsville, SC, graduating from Bennettsville High School in 1963. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Winthrop University in 1967 and did graduate work in guidance and counseling at the University of South Carolina.

After teaching school for four years in Charleston (where she lived on Rainbow Row) and Wallace, SC, she began a career with the SC Employment Security Commission in Kingstree, SC.  She eventually moved to the state office as the state training d irector in Columbia in 1974 at which time she was included in Who’s Who of American Women.  Over the years, she was fortunate to have traveled throughout the country, many trip s being with her ex-husband, Eme ry Murray. Her extensive involvement with the agency’s professional associations, including SC Chapter President and international board member, led to even more travel, eventually taking her to 35 states.

Upon retirement in 2000, she worked for a time with Milliken Forestry, a private forestry management and consulting firm which she found fascinating.  At the same time, she indulged a love of all things vintage and maintained a booth at Old Mill Antique Mall in West Columbia, which she called her favorite place on earth.  She worked there for the last 10 years and the staff and dealers there became like family. Like her mother, Helen had a love for animals and flowers.

She is survived by a sister , Marga ret (Cal) Humbert of Maxton, NC ; a brother, John (Dona) Holloway of Greer, SC; 3 nephews , Alan (Lucky) Holloway of Greenville, SC, Steve Humbert of Lumberton , NC, Michael Humbert of Lumberton, NC, and one niece, Lauren ( Chris) Winter of Spartanburg, SC.

She is also survived by her second family, Mike and Margaret Causey and their daughters Lauren and Teresa, who treated her like their own.  Her family members will be eternally grateful for the incredible comfort and support that was given to Helen at such a difficult time by these remarkable people.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 19, 2017 at 3:00pm at Moseley Funeral & Cremation Service, 914 Meeting Street, West Columbia, SC.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Candy Dish Fund at Old Mill Antique Mall, 300 State Street, West Columbia, SC  29169.