Geneva Murphy

On an unusual hectic day—April 21, 1949—an absolute legend was born in Forrest City, AR. Yes, folks, brace yourselves for the grand entrance of Geneva Taylor, the 8th of 13 incredible kids, thanks to my daring parents, Ethel Felton Taylor and Leroy Taylor. Growing up in this big household was no picnic, but I learned to assert my presence early on—let’s be honest, I practically had to fight my way to the spotlight! With so many siblings, the choice was clear: be LOUD or become a mere shadow. Clearly, I was destined to be heard!

Oh, and for those of you who weren’t graced with my presence back then, I was saved and proudly joined Willis Temple Church of God in Christ under the legendary Elder Willis. CHURCH NEWS ALERT: I rocked the choir! From a young age, I embraced the belief that through Christ, all things are possible. It’s like having a divine GPS guiding me through life’s highways and backroads! I learned early that with faith and maybe a little bit of sass I could overcome any bump in the road. By his stripes, I am healed, and let’s be honest, I’ve had my fair share of “character-building” moments. So, as you gather to celebrate my life, remember this: I lived fiercely, loved deeply, and probably told more jokes than anyone. I leave you all with the promise of joy and hopefully a few laughs in my memory! Keep the faith, and carry on the legacy of laughter!

Before I embarked on my professional journey, I honed my skills and developed my work ethic within the Forrest City School District, completing my secondary education at Lincoln. I started out riding my mother’s cotton-chopping bus as a child, where I chopped cotton for less than $3.00 a day. Those early experiences taught me the value of hard work and perseverance, setting the stage for my career. For many years, I strutted my stuff at WARWICK ELECTRONICS, INC., which eventually transformed into the legendary Sanyo Manufacturing Corporation. I was like the Energizer Bunny, keeping those electronics running smoothly while probably cracking a few jokes along the way! After my time at Sanyo, I hopped over to General Industries (GI) in Forrest City, AR, where I continued my mission to conquer the workweek.

Life threw me a pivotal bump in the road that forced me to hit pause for a hot minute. You know, a time when I had to reflect, grow, and come back stronger than ever. But let’s be honest—I’ve never been anyone’s fool! I strutted out of that experience like a champion, ready to conquer the world with a strut that could stop traffic. Seriously, I could put a stop sign out of business, but my knees and legs have grown old. If you don’t know me, let me introduce myself as your favorite fearless driver—the one and only traveling sensation in Forrest City! (If you know, you know. If you don’t, just ask Chief Broussard, Lt. McCoy, or Ptl. Curtis Davis; they’ll gladly confirm my legendary status!) You may have known me as “the pharmacist,” “NEVA,” “MURPHY,” or, dare I say, “Gangster G”—and let’s be real, I rocked each and every one of those titles! Not to brag, but I was pretty much a walking multitasking marvel! Now, if you ever needed a shirt, I was your gal—just not the one on my back, of course! And hey, you might have borrowed some of my money and conveniently forgotten to pay it back. But guess what? I never cut your tires—even though you totally deserved it! Let’s just say I’ve leveled up in the “being a better person” department. Everyone recognized me when I stepped out; I arrived at the restaurant or went to play the machines with my hair perfectly styled, makeup flawlessly applied, sporting my signature red lipstick, matching red nail polish, and a spritz of White Diamond perfume.

But let’s get to the real highlight of my life: becoming a TRINITY ALL NATIONS! Yes, yes, I know it’s not quite the official title, but it sure sounded good rolling off my tongue! If you insist on being proper, I can admit I was overjoyed to join Trinity All Nations Church under the fabulous leadership of none other than my son, Bishop Theodis Cochran, Jr. Now, don’t get it twisted; sometimes Memphis traffic got the best of me, and I couldn’t make it to 2383 Norman. So, I occasionally blessed the Redeeming Christian Spiritual Church #1 with my presence, where I was under the watch care of the late Bishop Theother Phillips, now led by Rev. Barry Phillips. Elder Felica I loved to hear you sing and Elder Chris do devotion! WHEW!! And Pastor Barry I loved to hear you say, AMEN y'all don’t got to say nothing! And let’s not forget my morning routine before the day kicked off every morning: blasting Lee Williams and the Spiritual QCs, followed by The Canton Spirituals ! It was like the perfect soundtrack to my life, setting the vibe for all the cleaning and moving around I had ahead of me—because this woman was no ordinary soul!

Well, let me tell you, life threw me a curveball, but I handled it like a pro! I packed my bags and strut my way to Jonesboro with my only daughter, Brenda. After that, I moved in with my oldest grandson and his lovely wife—oh, how I loved hearing him pray! But don’t get it twisted; I got it together and returned to the fabulous Forrest City, where I lived in my OWN house and everything was PAID. Remember, I’m I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T! Eventually, I found my way to Memphis with Theodis as my health decided to throw some drama my way. But hey, life always knows how to keep things interesting for someone like me! But let me tell you, I was fiercely independent until the very end! I lived every day on my terms, doing what I wanted, when I wanted—even if that just meant watching my favorite shows on Tubi especially The Haves and the Have Nots. So, as I take my final bow, remember to keep the spirit of independence alive! On Friday, June 27, 2025, at 5:17 p.m. at Methodist University Hospital, I got the ultimate phone call from Jesus himself—with a simple yet powerful message: “Well done, thy good and faithful servant!” Talk about a heavenly endorsement… I’m just waiting on judgement day! I’m not in Heaven yet. Now, let’s get real for a moment: I’m joining my amazing crew that slipped away before me: my mom, dad, and a whole lineup of my siblings—Florida Mae, Ethel Lee, Leroy Jr., Walter, Mary, Larry, and Jesse L and grandson—Joey Rucker. Having the best welcoming committee ever, don’t — you think?

I couldn’t have asked for a more colorful tapestry of life, filled with laughter, tears, and unexpected adventures! Those cherished memories will live on in the hearts of my three incredible sons—Charles McIntosh, Bishop Theodis Cochran, Jr. in Memphis, TN, and Kevin Taylor in Atlanta, GA—along with my unique daughter, Brenda Taylor in Jonesboro, AR. And let’s not forget my 17 brilliant grandchildren—Patrick (LaJunda), Tikesha (Martin), Roosevelt, Lashonda, Davan, Carniccia, Zaria, Xavier, Kinsley, Kimora, Keshundra, Kierra, Takiah, Kvon, Kevin, Jeremy, and Ladarius and 18 amazing great-grandchildren who will carry on my legacy of love and laughter! My amazing siblings—Delores (Roy) Britton in Little Rock, AR; Doris (Jimmy) Weaver in Jacksonville, AR; Linda Taylor in Sarasota, FL; along with my brothers A.J. (Lasonya) Taylor in Tampa, FL, and Leon (Martha) Taylor in San Antonio, TX—better keep the family gatherings lively! And to my devoted godson Miles J. Kimble in Forrest City, AR, along with my two godsisters, Bishop Carolyn Fields of Saint Louis, MO and Elder Joyce Grimes of Memphis, TN, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. To my treasured family: this isn’t a GOOD-BYE—it’s my traveling time! Remember the fun times, the crazy moments, and everything in between. Keep my spirit alive, keep smiling, and know that I'll be watching over each and every one of you!

The obituary was submitted by the family to Superior Funeral Home and Miles Mortuary, who are overseeing the arrangements.

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