The Los Angeles faith community bid farewell to the Rev. Dr. Frederick Ormonde Murph on June 2. A dedicated minister who served in California for decades, he was well known in the Los Angeles-area as the pastor of Brookins Community AME Church from 1996 to 2008.
Dr. Murph passed from a non-COVID related illness at the age of 67. A celebration of his life is scheduled for Thursday, June 18, at Greater Bethel Cathedral, 4831 S. Gramercy Place in Los Angeles. A viewing will take place from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and the service will start at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrances and expressions of love be forwarded to the Rev. Dr. Frederick O. Murph Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 14217, Irvine, CA 92623-9998
Most recently, Dr. Murph served as pastor of New Vision Ministries, a fellowship that he founded in 2010. He was also the author of “The Power of Spiritual Thought,” which was published in 2009.
During his tenure at Brookins, Dr. Murph led the congregation in renovating the main church building, installing a state-of-the-art sound system in the main sanctuary and rehabilitating three church-owned properties. He also founded the Vernon R. Byrd Child Development Center and established an after-school mentoring program. In addition, he was a community activist who collaborated with local, state and national politicians to develop outreach and educational programs to benefit South L.A. residents.
Also under Dr. Murph’s leadership, Brookins organized the inaugural City of Los Angeles African American Heritage Month Worship Service in 2005 during the administration of then-Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. For the next three years, he collaborated with the city to host the kick-off service, which featured participation by elected officials, civic leaders and noted individuals such as former President William “Bill” Clinton in 2008.
From 1986 to 1996, he served as pastor of First AME Church in Oakland, California where he oversaw the renovation of the edifice following the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. Prior to First AME, he was the pastor of St. Stephen AME Church in Essex, Maryland.
Dr. Murph received his Bachelor’s degree from American University in Washington, DC, his Master of Divinity degree from Howard University School of Divinity, and his doctorate degree from Liberia University. He continued to supplement his knowledge by completing several post-graduate courses in theology at various colleges in Southern California.
His parents, Bishop Henry and Supervisor Geraldine Murph; and his brother, Henry Murph, Jr, preceded him in death. Cherishing his memory are his sister, Jackie Taylor-Hadjis; brother, Ronald Weston Murph; niece, Jenelle Murph Davis; nephew, Romalis Taylor III; and many other relatives and friends.
