Amanda Murray

Amanda Murray was born on November 23, 1950, to Jessie and Beauty Bates, in Shaw, Mississippi. She was the youngest of seven children. She graduated from Jesup W. Scott High school in 1968. There, she participated in many sports activities. On June 27, 1970, she was united in holy matrimony with her high school sweetheart, Pastor Donald M. Murray. To this union, two children were born: Aaron and Donesia. In 2005, Amanda and Pastor Murray received an award in recognition of their hard dedicated work as grandparents. This award was granted by the Zeta Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Area Office on Aging of Northwest Ohio’s Kinship Navigator program. Amanda found God at an early age at New Light Baptist Church in Toledo, Ohio. She joined her husband as pastor at First Baptist of Port Clinton, Ohio. Later, they relocated to Nashville, Tennessee until the death of their daughter, Donasia. After which they returned to Toledo, Ohio and united with the Indiana Avenue Missionary Baptist Church. They remained faithful members there until Pastor Murray was called to pastor First Baptist Church in Swanton, OH until his death in 2011. In 2024, she joined Southern Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of her son, Pastor Aaron C. Murray. She was the first member to join the church under his leadership. Amanda was a compassionate, kind- hearted woman who enjoyed crafting, watching movies, spending time with family, and worshipping God under the leadership of her one and only son, Aaron. Though health had taken a toll, Amanda put up a strong fight and held on strong until departing on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at Mercy Perrysburg Medical Center, in Perrysburg, Ohio. Amanda was preceded in death by her parents, Jessie and Beauty, husband, Donald, daughter, Donesia, and siblings, Eugene, Arthur, and L.C. Surviving is her son, Pastor Aaron C. Murray (Tonya), siblings, Robert (Wanda) Bates and Leroy (Jo Ray) Bates, Margaret (Cleavelt), three grandchildren; Aaron, Re’gan (whom they raised), and Trinity, three great-grandchildren, and a host of other relatives, friends, and people who Amanda impacted throughout her life. “And the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12:7

Amanda Murray

November 23, 1950 - December 28, 2025