Remembering Marcell

IMG_7557, originally uploaded by Meridith Louise.

Marcell Murphy, my daughter Caitlyn's friend and classmate, died early Sunday evening after an apparent heart attack during a basketball game. What can I say about Marcell? He always had a smile on his face and was helpful and polite. Marcell would be one of the first football players to run over to the concession stand after the Friday night games looking for food. He was a big guy with a big heart. Marcell was a senior and would have graduated this June.

Caitlyn shared a few stories last night on the way home. Last year, her and Marcell had a few classes together. In Spanish II, if the other boys were bothering her, he would ask her if she wanted him to beat them up for her. When she would walk by, Marcell would joke around and clear a pathway for her in the crowded hall.

I was worried because she did not show any emotion when she first starting receiving the news via text messages from her friends. She told me that she did cry once she was in her discipleship group. There were lots of counselors and youth pastors at school yesterday for the students and they had an opportunity to share stories or give a testimony about Marcell and their friendship during chapel. Marcell liked to sing; so, the student body sang "Amazing Grace" and "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand".

Caitlyn told me last night that Marcell had just received his passport last week for his senior trip, where he would have been part of a group heading to Mexico to build pre-fabricated homes with his class for families who literally live in cardboard boxes. I believe the Class of 2009 will now have a greater drive in accomplishing this goal in Marcell's honor.
Please keep the Murphy family and the students and teachers of Chicago Hope Academy in your prayers at this time.