Rebecca Flanigan
Age - 78
November 25, 2023
Rebecca 'Becky' Murphy Flanigan died on Friday, October 27, 2023, at Willson Hospice House in Albany, Georgia after a short illness. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a. m. on Saturday November 25, 2023, at Porterfield Methodist Church. To honor Becky's wishes, the service will be short and to the point and followed by a celebration at 120 White Column Drive for family to gather with her friends, former students, and "adopted family" to laugh, cry, tell stories about Becky and hear ones they haven't heard before. Becky was born on October 18, 1945, in Montezuma, Georgia to Lee Lasseter Sheppard Murphy and Oliver Webster Murphy. After her father's death, her mother married Frederick Emerson 'Buddy' Riles who helped raise Becky and her brothers. She was raised in a time when family mattered, the entire community looked out for one another, your cousins were like siblings, and all of this shaped who Becky became as a person. Stories from her upbringing played heavily in her writing later in life. For nearly four decades, Becky poured herself into teaching high school English and French in Albany and the surrounding area. Prior to retirement, Becky was the Languages Department Chair for the Dougherty County School System and in retirement, she continued to volunteer for the school system as a Reading and Languages tutor. She was passionate about writing and teaching, but she cared most about the people she taught. Becky found joy in helping others develop their voices and to realize that vulnerability is a strength and the only way to be authentic, both in writing and in life. More so than her books, her stories, and her students, Becky's life was defined by the love she had for her family. She took great pride in the independent, unique, and confident women that her three daughters became, and found her true life's calling as a grandmother ("Mema" / "Memes") to the brood of grandchildren they provided her. Geographical distance did not prevent her from keeping up with all their activities and accomplishments. She loved being involved in their lives and watching them succeed in addition to keeping the greater Albany area informed of their accomplishments as well. Becky was blessed with 32 years with her husband, Lee. They lived a life of adventure and laughter filled with countless adopted pets, family, love, and shared experiences. Becky loved to celebrate her friends and showed up for them when they needed her. She was self-deprecating to the core, always willing to have fun at her own expense to bring laughter to those around her. She made a difference in the lives of those around her and the world shines a little bit less today without her. Becky was preceded in death by her parents, a sister-in-law, Gail Murphy, and many cousins. She is survived by her husband of 32 years, Frank Lee Flanigan; daughters, Holly Howard Bernhardt (Westley) of Jacksonville, FL; Melissa Howard Ialeggio (Anthony) of Westport, CT; and Elizabeth Brooke Donovan (Aaron) of Charlottesville, VA; Brothers Oliver Michael Murphy (Barbara) of Cordele and James Cameron 'Bo' Murphy of Albany; Grandchildren, Sarah Claire Bernhardt, Benjamin Bernhardt, Charles Bernhardt, Alexander Ialeggio (Emma), Kathryn Ialeggio, William Donovan, and Walter Donovan; Nephews, Patrick Murphy (Jamie) and their children Oliver and Maren; Matt Murphy (Vilma) and their daughter Sofia; Benjamin Drennan (Liz) and their son Isaac; and Jackson Murphy (Abby); Nieces, Hillary Murphy and her son Austin, Amanda Dragan and her children Evan, Anabelle, and Cooper, and Brittany Leggett. She is survived by several other special cousins and family as well as the father of her children Richard Howard (Cynthia) of Jacksonville, FL. In lieu of flowers, donations to Willson Hospice House at Phoebe or the charity of your choice would please the family. Show more
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