Obituary of Murphy A. Knight

Murphy Alfonzia Knight was born in Baltimore, MD on August 10, 1947 to the late George Herbert Knight, Sr and the late Muzetha Pigatte Knight. Being in a military family, Murphy attended school in France, before eventually moving back to the US and finishing his education. He was educated in the Maryland school system and graduated from Dunbar High School in Baltimore. Afterward, he attended Rowan University, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. Following in the footsteps of his family, Murphy proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army. He was deployed to Germany to help with war effort in Vietnam. After being Honorably Discharged from the Army, he works for the Department of Corrections for the States of Maryland and Pennsylvania and eventually the Department of Homeland Security. After spending years in the security sector, he focused on being an entrepreneur, as co-owner of I Love to Clean, Too. Never one to be far from the church, Murphy was appointed a Deacon at Christ Care Unit Missionary Baptist Church. He was a loyal officer of the church for over 20 years, serving as a member of the deacon board, pastor's aide, and the male chorus. Murphy married Paulean Merriwether on September 5th, 1998, taking on her two biological and two adoptive children as his own. He thrived in his role as a loving husband, father, and grandfather for 25 years. He and Paulean ran a successful office cleaning business until it was bought out by a competitor. He later joined his wife in NY to care for her ailing sister and her children. They retired to North Carolina for a few years and then moved back to Jersey to be close to family and friends. Murphy united with the Lord on January 31, 2023. He is survived by his loving wife Paulean Merriwether-Knight; children Kenya (Sirak) Meheret of Albany, NY, Martice (Asif) Hussain of Williamstown, NJ, Tiffany Merriwether of Raleigh, NC, Kline Merriwether of Williamstown, NJ; grandchildren Katherine Kirby of Houston, TX, Asif and Adil Hussain of Williamstown, NJ and Marcus Meheret of Albany, NY; great-grandchildren Alizè, Corey, Kai'le, and London of Houston, TX; stepmother Alice Knight of Roanoke Rapids, NC; sisters Collette Hurt of Virginia and Ramona Knight of Baltimore, MD, stepsister Annette Larkins of Roanoke Rapids, NC, stepbrother Claude Larkins of Baltimore, MD, and a host of family and friends. As he transitioned from physical to spiritual being, he was welcomed at the gates of Heaven by his predeceased family, parents Muzetha and George, brother George Knight Jr., sons Jason and Craig and grandchildren Sgt Darren Kirby (US Army), Sirak Meheret, Jr., and Nazia Hussain.