Christy Murray Benham

Christy Murray Benham, 48, passed away on January 19, 2024, at UAB Medical Center in Birmingham, AL. Christy was born July 20, 1975, in West Point, the daughter of Jim and Connie Brown Murray. Christy was a 1993 Graduate of Oak Hill Academy in West Point, where she played basketball. Christy then attended and graduated from Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. While at the Mississippi University for Women, Christy played basketball. She was a member of Cedar Bluff Baptist Church, but attended New Montpelier Baptist Church with her parents. Christy was a school teacher, teaching Junior High Science in the Pontotoc City Schools, where she was awarded Teacher of the year several times. She was also a basketball coach in the Pontotoc City Schools. Christy married Richard Benham on September 18, 2021, in Montpelier. Christy was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Mr. Billy Brown, and by her maternal grandmother, Mrs. Beatrice White, and by her paternal grandparents, Elbert and Bera Murray. Visitation will be Wednesday, January 24, 2024, from 5:00-8:00 P.M. at Calvert Funeral Home in West Point. Funeral services will be Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 2:00 P.M. from Calvert Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Jerry King officiating and assisted by Brother Todd Chesser. Burial will follow in Palestine Cemetery in Montpelier. A memorial service will be held Sunday, January 28, 2024, at 2:00 P.M. at the Pontotoc High School Gymnasium. Calvert Funeral Home of West Point is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements. Survivors include her Husband, Richard Benham of Pontotoc; Parents, Jim and Connie Brown Murray of Montpelier; one brother, Mike Murray (Kacy) of Hartland, WI; two nephews, Wells and Davis Murray both of Hartland, WI; Two Aunts, Jo Nell Hazlewood (Larry) of West Point and Ann Prevost (Grady) of Columbus; Uncle, John Brown of West Point; Sister-in-Law: Ruth Fisher (Rob) of Springfield, VA; and Brother-in-Law: Elliott Benham of Springfield, VA. Pallbearers will be Josh Hazlewood, Jon Luke Hazlewood, Bill Russell, Phil Webb, Grady Prevost, Steve Oglesby, Robbie Brown, and Allen Brown. Honorary Pallbearers will be Larry Hazlewood, George Simmons, Roy Lee Pate, Ken Brandon, Janice Mann, Coach Glenn Schmidt, Teachers, Coaches, Staff, and Former Students at Pontotoc City Schools, Staff of North Mississippi Medical Center-Tupelo, Staff of UAB Medical Center-Birmingham, AL, and Oak Hill Academy Class of 1993. Memorials may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, P.O. Box 5021, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5021 or to Christy Murray Memorial Scholarship Fund, C/O Pontotoc City Schools, 140 Education Drive, Pontotoc, MS 38863. Friends may leave an online condolence at www.calvertfuneralhome.com

Christy Murray Benham

July 20, 1975 - January 19, 2024