Ann Garrett Kemp Murray, 90

Funeral services for Ann Garrett Kemp Murray, 90 of Charleston, South Carolina, were held Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 1 p.m. at Swainsboro First Baptist Church with Rev. Burton Dixon officiating. Interment followed at Swainsboro City Cemetery. The family received friends Friday, March 11, 2022 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. She died Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at her residence.

Mrs. Ann Garrett Kemp Murray was born February 28, 1932 to the late John Ace and Annie Belle Waller Garrett in Swainsboro, Emanuel County. She was a graduate of Swainsboro High School’s Class of 1948 and attended Georgia State College. Mrs. Murray was crowned as queen of the first Miss Pine Tree Festival in 1946, an honor she deeply cherished. In 1956, she married Roy Joe Kemp; they traveled during his military career and while employed with DuPont until his untimely passing in 1968. Mrs. Murray then returned to Swainsboro with their three children and went back to college, graduating from Georgia Southern University in 1973 with a B.S. in Elementary Education. She taught at Swainsboro Primary School and was the reading coordinator at Swainsboro Elementary School for several years. In 1979, she married Richard Hart Murray, returned to Charleston, South Carolina, continuing her teaching career at Murray LaSaine School before opening a manufacturing business with her husband. After retiring from the manufacturing industry, Mrs. Murray remained active in short-term rentals, Charleston First Baptist Church, the Senior Center of Charleston, and a host of other activities. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Roy Joe Kemp and Richard Hart Murray; son-in-law, Christopher Johns Lyon; sisters, Lessie Brown and Jane Neat Philips; and brothers, Edwin “Eb” Garrett, Frank Garrett, Louis Garrett, and Rufus Garrett.

Survivors include her daughter, Lessie Catherine “Kitty” Kemp Lyon of Charleston; sons, Roy Joe Kemp and John Alfred “Al” Kemp (April), all of Charleston; grandchildren, C J. Lyon, Angela Lyon, Christian Mercer, Kinsley Kemp, and Kiley Kemp; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Asa Garrett, Bill Parker, Butch Brown, Kirby Allmond, Matt Oxley and Mark Oxley were pallbearers. Lanier Parham, David Parham and Ben Turner were honorary pallbearers.

Durden-Hudson Funeral Directors was in charge of arrangements.