Murphy High School Integration History
On Aug. 30, 1961 the Atlanta Public School system desegregated when nine black students—remembered as the Atlanta Nine—entered four all-white APS high schools.
Students Martha Ann Holmes and Rosalyn Walton (pictured above) arrived at Murphy High School on Aug. 30, 1961. Holmes went on to graduate from Spelman and became an APS elementary school teacher. Walton became a system manager for the Internal Revenue Service. Walton (now Rosalyn Walton-Lees) was one of three Atlanta Nine students honored by the
APS in a 2011 ceremony. (Bill Wilson / AJC Archive at the GSU Library AJCP297-004g)
Murphy High School Alumni Association History
1962-2023
1962-2023
The Murphy High School Alumni Association was created to establish the reconnection of former students and classmates of Joseph Charles Murphy High School. The idea started in the hearts of four alumni during the summer of 2007, Cynthia Butts-Coggins, Tava Hester- Swain, Valerie Lee-Selby, and Althea Wheeler-Williams, all graduates of the class of 1980. After the passing of one of their classmates, the group decided to do an impromptu reunion for their class. They gathered as much food, and as many grills as possible to have a cookout at the Bessie Branham Park in Kirkwood to reconnect with old friends and classmates. The word spread to hundreds of alumni, and many of the other classes showed up as well. Miraculously,
the food that they prepared for a mere few did not run out.
During the summer of 2008, the group decided to move forward with forming the Murphy High School Alumni Association. The first meeting was held on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at the Kirkwood Library. There were only twelve that attended and paid their membership dues. They are listed as the charter members of the association. the food that they prepared for a mere few did not run out.
The vision of the alumni association is to establish the reconnection of former students and classmates of Joseph Charles Murphy High School in Atlanta, Georgia. Moreover, this unit of members will aid with fostering comradeship of past alums and community involvement. The charge of the association is to promote community assistance, assist with college scholarships, food baskets and other necessities as deemed necessary.