[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 83 (Tuesday, May 14, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





             HONORING REVEREND DR. CECIL L. ``CHIP'' MURRAY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 2024

  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life 
and legacy of Reverend Dr. Cecil Murray, who passed away at the age of 
94 on April 5, 2024.
  Reverend Murray was born on September 26, 1929, in Lakeland, Florida. 
He graduated from Florida A&M University and served in the U.S. Air 
Force for ten years after graduating before moving to Los Angeles to 
earn a Ph.D. in religion from Claremont College's School of Religion.
  He then became a pastor at the First African Methodist Episcopal 
Church, where he served for 27 years. He built the church up from a 
small congregation of 250 members to over 18,000 members by the time he 
retired. He used his time at the church to inspire and give back to his 
community. During his tenure at the church, he established a non-profit 
investment arm that brought $400 million in investments to Los 
Angeles's minority and low-income neighborhoods.
  Reverend Murray was also known for being an influential voice of 
reason during the 1992 Rodney King riots in Los Angeles, when he called 
for calm during a time of chaos and helped to rebuild the city 
following the riots.
  Upon Reverend Murray's retirement from the church at age 75, he 
joined the University of Southern California's faculty, and started the 
Passing the Mantle Program, which later became known as the Cecil 
Murray Center at USC's Center for Religion and Civic Culture. He became 
a beloved and respected mentor at the university for future pastors who 
wanted to create projects to serve their communities.
  Murray was preceded in death by his wife Bernadine, and is survived 
by his son Drew, niece Tammie, nephews Anthony and Kevin, grandniece 
April, and grandnephews Isaiah and Corey.
  Pastor Murray touched many lives throughout his time as a pastor and 
university mentor, including my family's. He was my mother's pastor and 
was always very supportive of my family and me. He was a giant, but he 
was also a kind and gentle man who demonstrated what a purposeful life 
meant by living his faith each and every day. His compassionate 
mentorship and guidance helped make this a better world. He will be 
deeply missed. May he Rest in Peace and Power.

                          ____________________