It is with great sadness that MTG announces that firm co-founder Wallace Carmichael Murchison, 93, died on June 2, 2013 at his home. He was born Oct. 27, 1919, one of five children of David Reid Murchison, M.D., and May Carmichael Murchison. His wife, Susan Shands Murchison, predeceased him in September 1995. He was also predeceased by his brother, David R. Murchison.
He is survived by his beloved best friend, Maurine A. “Dink” Elebash; his beloved children Michael Murchison, and his wife, Barbara J. Sullivan, of Wilmington; Joseph Shands Murchison and his wife, Marilyn B. Murchison, of Laurel, Md.; Robert A. Murchison and his partner, Bill Butte, of Deerfield Beach, Fla., and Susan M. Racine and her husband, Carl E. Racine, of Boston Massachusetts; and his beloved grandchildren, Rachel, Charles, Katie and Michael Murchison and Joshua Racine. He is also survived by his sister, Loulie M. Eggleston, and two brothers, Joel Williams Murchison and John R. Murchison, II.
He received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University in 1941, his J.D. degree from the University of North Carolina in 1946 and an L.L.M. from Harvard Law School in 1947. He served in the Navy during World War II in the Pacific theater. Mr. Murchison was co-founder and long-time partner in the Wilmington law firm of Murchison, Fox and Newton, now known as Murchison, Taylor & Gibson, PLLC. Mr. Murchison served on the boards of numerous civic, community and professional organizations, often in a leadership capacity, including the Board of Governors of the N.C. Bar Association, the New Hanover County Bar Association, the American College of Probate Counsel, the United Fund, the Historic Wilmington Foundation, the Civitan Club, the Bellamy Mansion, the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, the Cape Fear United Way, the UNCW Foundation and many others. He was a devout member of St. John’s Episcopal Church and served faithfully on the vestry for many years. He also served in a number of positions with the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina and its Foundation.
The family will entertain visitors at the home, 1720 Fairway Drive, on Tuesday, June 4th from 4 to 7pm. The funeral service will be conducted on Wednesday, June 5th at 2pm at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1219 Forest Hills Drive, with a reception to follow at the church. Memorial gifts may be made to St. John’s Church or to the charity of the donor’s choice. The family would like to thank Dr. Michael McWilliams, Dr. Edward Whitesides, Dr. Paul Kamitsuka and Mr. Murchison’s other caregivers for their care during Mr. Murchison’s illness. Online condolences may be made at www.andrewsmortuary.com.
To read an interview with Mr. Murchison at the UNCW Archives from 2002, discussing both his history, the history of Wilmington and the firm, and his thoughts on law and many other topics, please click here.