Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

October 20, 2026

Mr. Gary Lambeth Murphy, 78, of Charlotte, North Carolina, and West Palm Beach, Florida, died on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, after a recent diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 24, at Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte. As Gary requested, a celebration for friends and family will follow at 12:30 p.m. at Charlotte Country Club.

Gary was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, the second of five children of Kermit Lynn Murphy and Jean Hartsook Murphy. He spent his early years in Greensboro and his summers hunting and fishing at his grandparents' home in Davis, North Carolina. At Page High School, he was an honor student and a star in both basketball and track. He was recruited to play basketball at Washington and Lee University, where he spent four of his happiest years and made lifelong friendships.

After graduating from W&L, Gary entered the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and trained at Parris Island and Camp Lejeune. He served seven more years in the Marine Corps Reserve before his honorable discharge in 1978.

On August 21, 1971, he married the love of his life, Beverly Ann Keever, one week before starting law school at the University of North Carolina. After law school, he clerked for two justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court.

Gary and Ann moved to Charlotte in 1974, where Gary began his legal career as an assistant district attorney. There he found his calling in criminal law. In 1979, he and his legal friends formed the firm that eventually became Dozier, Miller, Pollard & Murphy. Over his distinguished career, he received numerous honors and recognitions.

Gary belonged to several country clubs, but he liked to say his favorite was the Costco Club, where he spent many happy hours.

In retirement, he loved playing golf, hunting and fishing with friends, spending time at his river house in New Bern, and traveling in the U.S. and abroad with his wife, daughters and their families.

A friend wrote it beautifully: "We cannot reconcile how this [disease] could happen so suddenly to such a strong, brilliant, inspirational, energetic, fearlessly tough badass lawyer who has been revered, honored, and loved by all who knew him. … He treated everyone with kindness and respect. … His fabulous sense of humor always melted a stressful situation and lifted everyone's spirits."

Gary will be remembered for his love of family, love of life, his generous spirit, his handsome smile, and his optimistic outlook. He will be greatly missed.

Gary is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ann Keever Murphy; his daughters and their husbands, Keever and Brad Carpenter, and Carter and Manish Menon; his four grandchildren, Cason Duffy Carpenter, Eleanor "Nora" Murphy Carpenter, Priya Ann Menon, and Mina Cecilia "Cece" Menon; his sisters and their husbands, Janet Murphy and Gregg Drees, and Judy and John Worsley; his sisters-in-law Leigh Yost, Jane Murphy, and Martha Keever; and his beloved dog, Dixie.

He was predeceased by his brothers, Kermit "Kit" Lynn Murphy Jr. and David Steven Murphy.

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.