Thomas Matthew Murphy

Thomas Matthew Murphy was born September 7, 1953 and left this world on October 30, 2022.  He is the son of the late Carl & Marilyn Murphy and the grandson of the late Perry & Victoria Murphy and the late Anse Mclaurin & Helen Fairbell Williams Black.  

Tommy graduated from high school with a basketball scholarship to Holmes Community College.  He then attended Mississippi State University, where he graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science in Ag Economics.  

In 1977, he married the love of his life, Deborah Fortenberry.  Bonded by their love of basketball, travel, family, friends and all things Mississippi State, they shared nearly 46 years together.

Later in 1977, he joined the Murphy Family Farm in Canton with his dad and brother, where he worked for 45 years, retiring in December 2021.  

Tommy had a passion for the outdoors and spent much of his leisure time deer watching, and hunting.  His love for travel was shown in annual family vacations to the Smoky Mountains, out west to the Rocky Mountains, the beach or anywhere he could enjoy beautiful scenery and time with his family.  

One of his most beloved hobbies was watching his Mississippi State University Bulldogs play football and women’s basketball.  

In 2011, he found a new passion, his first grandchild.  It was love at first sight and then again in 2018.  One of his greatest joys was being Grandaddy to Alex & Noah.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and his brother, Jody Brooks Murphy.  He is survived by his wife, Deborah; his son Ben Murphy (Jessica) and his daughter Alison Hawthorne (Ben); grandchildren Alex Murphy, Noah Hawthorne, Justin, Rawson, Brayden & Christian Hawthorne.  He is also survived by brothers Danny (JoAnne), Gerry (Ann), and Michael (Laura) Murphy; sisters-in-law Judy Presley (CL) and Brenda Ball (Don); along with numerous nieces and nephews.  

Visitation will be held at Breeland Funeral Home in Canton, MS on Tuesday, November 1st from 5pm-7pm and on Wednesday, November 2nd at 10am with a memorial service following at 11am, also at Breeland Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Tommy’s memory to the Southern Outdoors Unlimited Super Hunt in honor of his passion for sharing the love of hunting with others.  www.southernoutdoorsunlimited.org/donate.

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