Dr. Tom Murphy

Dr. Jesse Thomas (Tom) Murphy, 63, died Sunday, September 20, 2009 at Randolph Hospital, after a courageous twelve-year battle with cancer. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 26, 2009 at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 505 Mountain Road, Asheboro, N.C. The family will receive friends Friday, September 25, 2009, from 6-7:30 pm at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro, N. C. Dr. Murphy was born in Eden, North Carolina, the son of James Arthur and Dorothy Caudle Murphy, both of whom preceded him in death. Dr. Murphy received his BA degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1967, the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1971. He served a dental internship at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics from 1971-1972. Dr. Murphy then completed the 3 year Oral Surgery residency program at The North Carolina Memorial Hospital, a part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he served as Chief Resident in 1974-1975. He was a member of the honor society Omicron Kappa Epsilon and a member of Zi Psi Phi dental fraternity.Dr. Murphy began his Oral Surgery practice in Asheboro, NC in 1975, where he practiced until declining health forced him to retire in 2002. Dr. Murphy belonged to the Randolph County Dental Society, the North Carolina Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Dental Society, and was a Fellow in the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.Dr. Murphy was a member of the Asheboro Rotary Club and The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. He was one of the first volunteers of The Merce Clinic and was a member of Pinewood Country Club. Family was most important to Dr. Murphy. He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Linda Higdon Murphy; daughter: Angela Murphy Kinghorn and her husband Mark of Charlotte, N.C.; daughter: Dorothy Higdon Murphy of Raleigh, N.C.; brother: James David Murphy and his wife Linda of Eden, N.C.; grandchildren: Grant and Anne Kinghorn.Memorials may be made to The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 505 Mountain Road, Asheboro, N.C. 27205.