Marlene "Pumpkin" Murphy Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Marlene Todd was born on June 26, 1951 in Homestead, Pennsylvania. She was the youngest of 3 children from the union of Hazel Mathews and Louis "Bus" Todd. "Pumpkin" was forever called by family, friends, colleagues and politicians alike, was raised in Homestead's second ward. In her youth she attended Second Baptist Church and was baptized under the pastorate of the late Rev. O. C. Perkins. She was educated in Homestead Public School System and was a 1970 graduate of Homestead Senior High School. After graduating and entering the work force Pumpkin, with her strong work ethic, worked for US Steel and both Central Medical and Homestead Hospitals before her employment with the Homestead Parking Authority where she would spend twenty years of her working career. In that time she progressed from meter maid to supervisor. For many of those years, she worked closely with fellow employee Rev. Donald P. Turner, her pastor and good friend. Her job took her out into the community and that is where she loved to be. She was a lifelong resident of Homestead and loved her town and all the good it stood for. She was well known and respected and hers was the voice that could always be heard in matters regarding Homestead and its citizens. She had a special place in her heart for "Her Kids, Her Seniors". She believed that kids and teens needed a safe place to develop and learn and to that end she implemented and hosted an afternoon program for them at the Salvation Army. She was passionate about the senior citizens in the community. She believed that they deserved respect and kindness but also compassion, care, love and companionship. "Her Kids, Her Seniors". She received the most personal satisfaction from the position that she held at that time of her passing which was Outreach Coordinator for The Rainbow Kitchen. Miss Pumpkin and her dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly to serve the underserved with the monthly food distribution which hundreds of families took advantage of, with food deliveries to the homes of senior citizens, her annual coat drive where she made sure that there were also hats, scarves and gloves for "Her Kids", and the Farmstand which provided fresh fruit and produce during the summer months for "Her Seniors". Pumpkin was united in marriage to Don E. Murphy. They have one son, Shawn. Pumpkin was a past member of Propel School Board and the Salvation Army Advisory Board and she was a past vice president of the Harmony Club of Homestead. Her less formal affiliations were that of the Spice Writers (she was an avid reader) and The Maple Street Gang which consisted of herself and 3 of her childhood friends: Lynette Clark, Hattie Smith, and Rose Shaw whose bond grew stronger over many years while living in the same apartment building and helping each other under the premise "It takes a village to raise a child". She also shared a special friendship with Mayor Betty Esper, Kelley Hill-Brown, Denise Hunt, and Michelle Collins. She loved her family with all of her heart, and her grandson, Grant was the light of her life. On Wednesday, May 22, 2019 the Lord in His infinite wisdom, saw fit to call Marlene Todd Murphy home. She is preceded in death by her parents, Hazel Todd Green and Louis Todd, Sr., stepfather and stepmother; Arthur Green and Rose Todd; maternal grandmother, Azula Mathews; brothers; Benjamin, Louis Todd, and Keith Todd; nephews: David "Lumpy" and Don Everett "Booper" Todd; mother and father-in-law, Eva May and Joseph Murphy, Sr., sister and brother-in-law: Rosetta, Norman, Richard, and Wayne Murphy. She leaves to honor and cherish her memory devoted husband Don E. Murphy; sons: Rashid DeShawn (Sarah Diaz) Todd, Evan (Alannah) Murphy, and Erran Murphy; siblings: Shadena Todd, Jeffrey Bergwin, Dwayne (Satara) Bergwin, Eric Bergwin, Louis Todd, Jr., Cheryl Todd and Linda Todd; grandsons: William, Grant , Jaiden, and Micah; niece and nephew: Denise Todd an Antwon Rose, Sr.; aunt, Marion Palmer; sisters-in-law: Lori Roadway, Ruth Todd, Diane Murphy, Lorraine (Darryl)Foster and Laverne Murphy; brothers-in-law: Joseph Murphy, Jr., Robert (Jeanie) Murphy, Calvin (Marsha) Murphy, and Anthony (Kim) Murphy; goddaughter, Joslyn Smith; and a host of other relatives and good friends too numerous to mention. She is already missed.

Tributes

Marlene "Pumpkin" Murphy

June 26, 1951 - May 22, 2019