A daylong memorial, including a viewing and Celebration of Life wake, will take place Friday in honor of the late Rev. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray at First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, where the spiritual leader served as pastor for 27 years.
Murray died of natural causes April 5 at his home in the View Park section of Los Angeles at the age of 94, his family said.
During his tenure at FAME, the city’s oldest Black church, from 1977 to 2004, Murray helped grow its congregation from 250 to more than 18,000 members and attracted high-profile visitors including former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, along with multiple governors and Los Angeles mayors.
He was also noted for his calming presence during the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
After his death was announced, Mayor Karen Bass called Murray “a giant” who had “dedicated his life to service, community, and putting God first in all things. I had the absolute honor of working with him, worshiping with him, and seeking his counsel. My heart is with the First AME congregation and community today as we reflect on a legacy that changed this city forever.”