Heather Shawne Murphy

Heather Shawne Murphy, Mt. Pleasant, S.C. slipped away peacefully to be with the Lord on January 19, 2015 after an extended illness. Blessed with an indomitable spirit and a strong Christian faith she overcame nearly lifelong physical impairments to excel in all of her many endeavors. She was a gifted performer who began acting and singing on stage in children's productions in Ames, Iowa and the Johnson City Community Theatre in Johnson City. She performed with the Nashville Academy Theatre School of Dramatic Arts and was accepted to the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University. She continued her love of the arts through her young adult years performing professionally.
A distinguished and iconic Language Speech Pathologist, dedicated to her profession, Heather received many awards and recognitions throughout her career. She began her distinguished life's work with self-employment in Charleston, S.C. She was soon recruited to work in Chattanooga, Tennessee where she was employed by Life Care Centers for over 13 years, specializing in geriatric swallowing and in treatment of autistic children. While in Chattanooga she was on staff at the Erlanger Hospital in the Level 1 Trauma Center. Since retiring some years ago she has volunteered her professional services to incarcerated juveniles in Charleston. She has also been involved in writing a script for instructional presentations on ethics and integrity in the medical profession.
Heather was a long time member of the Order of the Daughters of the King. She received her cross while at Christ Church in Mount Pleasant.
She will be sorely missed by the many whose life Heather has touched in her professional and personal life. Her quick wit, endearing smile, and caring, selfless nature gained her many friends who have remained very loyal to her. She was especially proud of her work in mentoring and sponsoring speech pathologists new to the profession.
Born on October 9, 1963 in Columbia, S.C., she moved with her family to Ames, Iowa, then to Columbia, Tennessee and finally to Nashville Tennessee where she graduated from Hillsboro High School and earned her Associate Degree from Middle Tennessee State University. She received her Bachelor of Science and her Masters in Speech Pathology from Memphis State University. Her master's thesis on "Left Brain Strokes" has been used as a teaching tool at Memphis State. She was one of the early professionals selected to be certified in Vital Stim Therapy to treat swallowing difficulties.
She is survived by her parents, Earl and Charlene Murphy and her sister Missy Cartwright of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., brothers Danny Cook (Debbie of)Fort Worth, Texas and David Murphy (Wanda of) Pryor Oklahoma. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and special friends.
The visitation will be Friday January 23, 2015 at J. HENRY STUHR, INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1494 Mathis Ferry Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC from 6:00-8:00pm. A "Celebration of Life" service will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 11:00am in Christ Church Mt. Pleasant SC.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made to Youth Hope Chaplain Volunteer Program at Pinelands Group Homes in Summerville, South Carolina. Please make checks payable to Youth Hope/Rev. Michael Smith, P.O. Box 1342, Summerville, SC 29483.