John Ray Murray, Jr.

John Ray Murray, Jr., affectionately known as “Big John”, “CC”, “Country” or “Boo” was born December 29, 1976, to the late Patricia Ann Holmes. He was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Patricia Ann Holmes, and adoring grandmother, Rita Inez “Mousie” Nelson Holmes and grandfather, Aubrey Holmes.

On Thursday, November 21, 2019, at 3:29pm, surrounded by his family & closest friends, God called our loved one home. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21).

John accepted Christ, was baptized and joined Antioch Baptist Church in Champlain, Virginia.
He was educated in the Essex Country Public School System. He also attended Alliance Tractor Trailer Training Center where he was trained and received his CDL. He was employed for many years by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). In his youth, he was employed by Lowery’s Restaurant in Tappahannock. At both places, he made several lifelong friends and many priceless memories.

We pause today to pay our last respects to an amazing husband, father, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend. Words will never be able to express what John meant to all of us and the void he leaves will never be filled.

John leaves to cherish fond memories: his loving and devoted wife Tawana and their two adoring children, Asia and Aiden, all of Laneview, Virginia; his father-in-law and mother-in-law , Deacon Conrad and Deaconess Lucy Hundley of Laneview, Virginia; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Stanley and Trina Bundy of Dunnsville, Virginia; his nephews Darrian Bundy of Virginia Beach, Virginia and Deon Bundy of Dunnsville, Virginia; his godsons Herbert “Peedy” Bundy and Tyrus “Tiger” Ware of Tappahannock, Virginia and goddaughter India O’Neal-Tracey of Richmond, Virginia; his aunts Ellen Gray of Caret, Virginia, Jean Ware (Jerome) of Tappahannock, Virginia, Dorothy O’neal (Robert) of Champlain, Virginia, and Celeste Houston of New Jersey; his uncles Dean Holmes (Carol) and William Holmes (Mildred) of Champlain, Virginia. His devoted cousins, with whom he was raised as siblings: Bobby, Nicky, Tia, Tike, Lucy, Lori, Corey, Chris, Shelly and Tiffany. And a host of other cousins and relatives.

John’s friends are too numerous to mention by name, for to know him was to love him. He always had words of wisdom, advice or just a good laugh to share. EVERYONE knew Big John. And everyone will miss him.