Memorial services for Paula Lyles Murph will be held Wednesday at 12:00 noon at Wesley United Methodist Church on July 3, 2019 in Hartsville, SC. Visitation will begin at 11am with service at 12pm. She passed away on June 29, 2019. Rev. Steven Gaither and Rev. Paul Coward, Jr. will officiate. Family will also receive friends on Tuesday July 2 from 5-7 pm at the residence at 379 South Seventh Street, McBee, S.C. Paula was born in Florence, SC, daughter of the late Pauline Langston and Robert William Lyles, Sr. She graduated from Hartsville High School in 1971 and received an Associate of Arts degree from Spartanburg Methodist College, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Coker College in Elementary Education with a minor in Sociology, a Master of Education degree from Lesley University, and a Doctorate in Education.
Paula taught 5th and 6th grade Language Arts and Social Studies at McBee Elementary School, where she was employed until her retirement.
Prior to teaching, she was a social worker (LBSW) for the Darlington County South Carolina Department of Social Services and the Sandhills Medical Foundation (for rural child health and maternal services).
She was well known for her cooking, catering skills, canning, gardening, love of lilies, painting, music, church organ performance, involvement with church, the arts, family, and her circle of friends. She was a past Cub Scout Leader (Hartsville), Girl Scout Leader (McBee), local church Youth Director, and a volunteer in numerous community and church music activities.
Paula was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Thomas Shuler Sunday School, Class, and served as Mission Coordinator for the Epworth Children’s Home, Columbia, SC.
Surviving are her husband of 43 years Harry Lee Murph, Jr of McBee; son Harry “Lee” (Cherita) Murph III, and granddaughter Ava Aquino of Hartsville; daughter, Dr. Megan Elizabeth Murph, of Spartanburg; sisters Linda Lyles Williams of Calera, Al., and Carolyn Lyles (Jeff) Sifford, of Hartsville; two sister in laws, Brenda Murph Logan, Shaker Heights, Ohio and Daphne Murph Chapman, Lake Junaluska, N.C.; Nieces and nephews, Christopher Williams, Caroline Williams Belscher, Chris Chapman, Carrie Ann Willingham, Harriett Logan and Bobby Logan. She was preceded in death by her brother, Robert William Lyles, Jr.; three brothers in law, Curt Chapman, Russ Logan and David Williams. Memorials may be made to the Children’s Book Collection at Coker College Library, Wesley United Methodist Church, or Epworth Children’s Home.