Johnny "Sharmon" Murray, Jr., 87, of Palatka, entered the sunset of life on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at Haven Hospice, Roberts Care Center, Palatka.  A native of St. Stephen, SC, he was the son of Mariah Pinckney Murray and Johnny Murray, Sr., born on Wednesday, August 5, 1931.  Johnny grew up in the Old Field community but moved away early in life to work in New York and subsequently to Florida. His greatest love was God and his family. He was a former member and Deacon in Church of God in Christ and later served at New Life Deliverance Center under the leadership of his daughter, Pastor Edna Mae McCoy.   He was an entrepreneur who had several small stores, worked in the logging industry, and also sold crabs and was known as the "Crab Man." He formerly owned and operated his own pulpwood truck and later worked for his son, Rev. James Vickers in his trucking company.  He was an avid Braves baseball fan.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in eternal rest by his loving wife, Essie Mae Murray; daughter, Jimmie Lee Vickers-Williams; son, Richard "Red Cap" Matthews, Jr., sisters, Rebecca Powell and Eloise Governor.

To cherish his memories are his stepchildren, Ann (Geno) Garvin, Rev. James (Shirley) Vickers, Mandy Smith (Malcolm), all of Palatka, FL.; Pastor Edna Mae McCoy, Welaka, FL; four sisters, Alice Samuel and Hattie Swinton, both of Charleston, SC; Nancy Murray, New York City; Fellestine Meadows, Bronx, NY; 19 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, and 11 great-great grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Homegoing Services will be 11 a.m., Saturday, February 16, 2019 at the at the Inez M. Henryhand Memorial Chapel of Henryhand Funeral Home, 1951 Thurgood Marshall Hwy., Kingstree, SC.