Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

May 13, 2026

CHARLOTTE – Beloved Husband, Father, and Grandfather, Dr. John Murray Fadial, age 93, died on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Charlotte, NC.  He was born in Tampa, Florida, to his parents, Fred Fadial and Caselline Rose Osborne.  

Murray was a man of many interests and skills.  In his youth practiced piano diligently; when not playing, he drew on reams of butcher’s paper that came from his father’s grocery store.  Years later, as a freshman at Florida State University, the interest in art won out over music: while he had planned on studying piano, he ultimately decided to major in Fine Painting.

After graduating from FSU, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, Murray began his art career in fashion design and advertising as an illustrator for department stores in Atlanta. When the Korean War broke out, Murray joined the Air Force, working in intelligence as a Russian interpreter in North Africa.  After four years of service, he was discharged and joined the CIA, where he learned Arabic.

With the knowledge that the University of Florida had built a medical school, and a desire to try something new and challenging, he decided to pursue medicine, which became the ultimate profession.  While studying, he fell in love with fellow student Jerusha Barnum, who became his wife.  Together, they acquired two children, John and Sabrina, while in Gainesville.

Murray and his young family then moved to Charlotte, where he was an intern at Charlotte Memorial Hospital.  He then became the first Resident in Emergency Medicine, which was then called “acute ambulatory care.”  He and Jerusha welcomed their third child, Vanessa, during that time.

After his time at Memorial Hospital, Murray founded the Emergency Department at Presbyterian Hospital (now Novant), the first such department in Mecklenburg County.  Murray aimed to make everyone feel as comfortable as possible in such a challenging environment as an emergency room.  On nights when blizzards hit, for example, he would take his grill to work and make pancakes for anyone who was working in the hospital.  He always tried to make things a little bit warmer for all.  He retired after 30+ years claiming that Emergency Medicine is a “young man’s sport”.  In retirement, he painted prolifically, to the joy of everyone who saw his amazing works. There is still one on his easel, an almost finished portrait of his granddaughter, Eloise in France.  We rejoice in having had so many delightful years together with this most remarkable and dear person. Thanks be to God!

A gentle, kind, funny, decisive gentleman, he adored his children and supported them in their propensities for art and music.  He made sure that music in particular was alive in the family.  All five members of the family sang in the choirs of Covenant Presbyterian Church, where they were active members.

Murray is survived by his wife, Jerusha Barnum Fadial; children, Dr. John Murray Fadial (Beth), Sabrina Barnum Fadial, and Dr. Vanessa Alden Fadial (Mark); his four grandchildren, Eloise (Evan) and Nicholas Fadial, and Alexander and Caitlin Berry and a dear cousin, Nadim Fadial. He was predeceased by his brother, Fred Myrofe Fadial (Norma). 

There will be a memorial service at 2:00 PM on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at Covenant Presbyterian Church.  The family will receive friends following the service in the Welcome Center at the church.  The service will be livestreamed through the church website at: https://www.covenantpresby.org/live for those unable to attend in person.

Donations may be offered in memory of Murray to the Brevard Music Center, 349 Andante Lane, Brevard NC 28712 or Covenant Traditional Music Program, 1000 East Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28204.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606.  Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.