The Call To Return Home Always Remains

“There is a magic in that little word, home; it is a mystic circle that surrounds comforts and virtues never known beyond its hallowed limits.” — Robert Southey, English poet

I made a familiar trek Sunday afternoon.

Since 1997, my path home takes me from the place I reside — Winder — to the place that will always be home — Monticello.

The trip enabled me to be part of a memorial service for Virgil Murphy, Jr., a man who traveled the world, but in the words of one of his daughters, “still considered Monticello home.”

While an observer at this special service, my mind drifted back to a time many years ago when I first saw Mr. Murphy. Around the age of 11, I was a somewhat skinny kid whose eyes opened pretty wide I suspect when I first saw this mountain of a man.

“He could pick me up with one finger,” I clearly remember thinking.
To me he was like a giant.

Mr. Murphy’s days on the football field for the Monticello High School team are still talked about as he certainly was a giant on the playing surface. Region and state championships were celebrated in our little town.

While I was only a figment of anyone’s imagination when Mr. Murphy struck fear into the hearts of opponents on the gridiron, it has always been fascinating to me to hear the tales of his accomplishments, both from members of my family to members of his to his former teammates and coaches and in old newspaper clippings.
As a football junkie, I can understand what it must have been like during those times, even if I cannot identify with them personally.
After leaving his mark on the football fields for Monticello, Mr. Murphy continued his career at the University of Georgia and followed that with a stint in the Air Force during Vietnam.

His work through the years often took him far from the confines of our town and his entire family would move away in the mid 1980s, eventually settling in Texas. Trips overseas continued and Mr. Murphy most recently made his home in Alabama.

Still, Monticello always had a special place for him. It’s like that with your hometown. It’s where your roots are and while you may venture away from that safety net called home, you never forget.
Traveling the familiar route on Hwy. 11 Sunday, it was hard not to think about home. Work keeps me from making it home as much as I’d like. It was the same through the years for Mr. Murphy I suspect. Many who spoke at his memorial confessed how they did not keep in touch with him the way they would have liked. It’s a part of life that is common, although certainly regrettable.

As a fellow member of the Monticello circle, I got to know Mr. Murphy’s daughters, Laura and Dee Dee, quite well during the decade of the 80s. While I knew of all of his children, Laura and Dee Dee were closest in age to me and a common bond was formed.

We were kids growing up in small town America, forming friendships and building ties that thankfully continue today, even as we remember Dee Dee, who was tragically taken from us more than two decades ago.

Through the years I have bragged on my hometown quite a bit to those I meet. Some have even heard of our town, for one reason or another, be it because of a movie filmed here or a known country music singer.

“It’s home,” I always say to those in describing it, “and it always will be.”

Mr. Murphy returned home Sunday and a town honored one of its heroes. He was a football star, a veteran, a family man and someone who will always be remembered by those “back home.”

What helps make Monticello great? It’s remembering someone, who despite living elsewhere for some time, will always see the welcome mat extended.

I offer a sincere thank you for those responsible in putting together Sunday’s memorial service. It was a fitting tribute to one of Monticello’s own. The service reinforced why I brag on this place so much.

Monticello native Chris Bridges is editor of the Barrow Journal in Winder. He wrote this column for The Monticello News. You can contact him at cbridges@barrowjournal.com.