CAROLYN MURRAY: THE STRENGTH BEHIND THE STORY A life of survival and service proves resilience becomes a way of life when practiced with humor, humility and heart BY ZANDRINA DUNNING PHILANTHROPY What does strength and grace look like when we keep moving forward, no matter what? Eight marathons. Twenty-seven bridge runs. Yoga. Bodybuilding: a discipline that shaped the strong frame she still carries today. Rising at 4:30 a.m. each morning to greet the sunrise, then cycling or walking 50 to 60 miles each week. (Yes, weekly. Some of us celebrate locating matching socks.) This is how Carolyn Murray meets life: with intention, motion and resolve—not to outrun it, but to honor it. For many of us, Murray doesn’t simply report the news. She feels like family. She is the familiar face in our living rooms, the steady voice at the end of long days. She is measured. Compassionate. Trusted. Long before we knew her personally, we felt we knew her. Murray’s journalism journey began in Charleston in 1988, first on radio and soon on television, where she became a trusted presence in the community. Her career later took her to Chicago, sharpening her perspective before calling her home again, rooted in excellence and guided by a truth she heard directly from Oprah: real success is integrity. Showing up fully, whether millions are watching or only you’re speaking to an audience of one. It wasn’t until earlier this year that I came to know the woman beyond the anchor desk through an intimate radio interview, co-hosting TEDx Charleston and welcoming her as a guest on The ZD Experience Live. Writing from that vantage point is both humbling and an honor. One quiet, unplanned moment affirmed her spirit: as she stepped out after changing before the show, she wore the exact color mirrored in my custom garment by Shaniequa Washington of Zuriel Kingdom Collections. We looked at each other and laughed, because sometimes alignment doesn’t whisper, it color-coordinates. Photo by Kayla Rochelle Photography Her deepest strength, however, was forged far from the camera. In March 2020, Murray faced a life-altering diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis, compounded by spinal tumors and neurofibromatosis. After surgery, she had to relearn how to walk during three months hospitalized, alone, during a pandemic. She often reflects on words from the late Congressman John Lewis: no matter what, keep moving forward. For Murray, those words became literal. Each step was an act of courage. Each wobble, a quiet victory. At home today, her strength softens. Murray is Jimmy’s wife, Reese’s mom, a devoted pet parent and a committed servant to her community, serving on boards including the International African American Museum, the Charleston Animal Society, the Medical University of South Carolina’s Neurosciences Board of Directors and the City of Charleston’s Health and Wellness Committee. Her home is joyfully alive: Mike, her 15-year-old pit bull rescue; Kirby the tabby; two Muscovy ducks, Gene and Gerri; and two feral porch visitors, Walter and Mister, still undecided about indoor life. Carolyn Murray is the strength behind the story. She is proof that resilience, practiced daily with humor, humility and heart, becomes a way of life and a light for anyone still finding their footing. 52 WWW.CHARLESTONWOMENPODCAST.COM | WWW.READCW.COM | WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/CHARLESTONWOMEN
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