Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

Alberta Murray Casey took her rest on the morning of October 14, 2019 after a long illness. She was born December 19, 1956 at the U.S. Naval Hospital in St. Albans, New York to Rev. Thomas R. Murray, Sr. and the late Karolyn K. Murray.

She attended Montgomery High School, where she was a majorette and cheerleader. Alberta accepted Christ at an early age. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Montgomery, WV. She did not mind sharing her testimony about the goodness of the Lord.

In 1974, Alberta was blessed to mother to Johnnie Lynn Casey, Jr., who blessed her with a beautiful granddaughter, Jazmin Casey. John passed away in 2012 after a long bout with cancer.

She was creative and had a passion for fashion and interior design. She worked as a seamstress at Corbin’s, at Marshall University as a caterer and a former project manager at the U.S. Department of Defense-assisting FEMA and the National Guard. She loved being of service to other people, especially the elderly and disabled. She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing. She didn’t have much, but would give her time, talent and love to anyone she could. Due to her personal experiences with domestic violence, Bert had a desire to help others so she sanctioned her ministry, A Guiding Light, to assist victims in finding shelter and safety.

Alberta was preceded in death by her mother, Karolyn; son, John; sister-in-law, Kimberly Murray; brothers-in-law, George Palmer and Leonard “Speedy” Bailey; and nephew, Chad Parker. She is survived by her father, Rev. Thomas R. Murray, Sr.; granddaughter, Jazmin Casey; daughter-in-law, Irina Toshkova Casey; three brothers: Bishop Calvin (Eletha) Murray, Marshall and Bishop Thomas (Arnise), Jr.; three sisters, Tina (Jerome) Burs, Karolyn “Kathy” (Glenn) Burs and Stacy (Min. Larry) Medcalf; the 8th Murray-Dionne “Dee Dee” Brown; a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends. We want to acknowledge the steadfast and faithful friendships of Donald Johnson, Niecy Williams, Sally Bohanna and Eloise Canada.

So many people held a special place in Alberta’s heart. We could never name them all, but SHE wanted to say a special thank you to Rev. Isaac Kinney, Shirley Jones-Wooding and the Tolliver/Robinson/Moore family.

Funeral service will be 1:00PM Friday, October 18, 2019 at Brookside Ministries, 18419 Deepwater Mountain Rd, Mt Carbon. Burial will follow in Kanawha Valley Memorial Gardens, Glasgow. Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church. Email condolences to ritchie-johnson@suddenlinkmail.com Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley