Erica Bowie Murphy

Erica Bowie Murphy, 61, passed away on September 4, after a years-long battle with a rare neurological disease known as Multiple System Atrophy. She was born September 27, 1962 in Alexandria, VA to Barbara and Don Bowie and welcomed by older sister Lyndsay. Erica studied at James Madison University, graduating in 1984 with a degree in Information Systems. She moved to Richmond shortly after college where she began working at General Medical, followed by Reynolds Metals, and then Capital One where she remained for nearly 20 years before retiring in 2018. Soon after moving to Richmond, Erica formed relationships with many people who would become lifelong friends, as well as her future husband, Jim Murphy. 

Erica and Jim married in 1989 while living in Richmond and moved to Hanover County a few years later, after welcoming their daughter Caitlin to the family.

Erica was sincerely devoted to her family, including her cousins Patti and Krista who were as close as sisters, and nieces Caleigh and Eliza, whom she loved as daughters. She was creative and kind, and maintained incredible friendships with many people in her life who remember her as an organized, practical friend with a fun-loving streak. Erica was known for her great playlists and could always be found with her girlfriends (most notably the Westhampton Moms) on the dance floor. She loved cooking, holiday traditions, flowers, dogs, and travel, particularly to one of her favorite cities, Charleston, South Carolina.

In addition to her parents, Erica was predeceased by her sister, Lyndsay Balsamo. Survivors include her husband, Jim Murphy; daughter, Caitlin Murphy, her husband, Chris Pivik, and grandson, Lawson; nieces Caleigh and Eliza Balsamo; her aunt Joyce Gillum; cousin Krista Boucher, her husband Pete and their children and grandchildren; and cousin Patti Weaver, her husband Gregg and their children and grandchildren. She is also survived by several more-distant cousins, many in-laws, nieces, nephews, and numerous long-time friends.

All of Erica’s survivors and friends would like to thank the team of physicians, therapists, nurses, hospice nurses, and caregivers who helped her through her long journey with this terrible disease.

A Celebration of Life will be held on October 11th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Oakdale, 13497 Ashland Road, Ashland, VA 23005.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable contributions in memory of Erica Murphy be made to Brain Support Network, www.brainsupportnetwork.org, P.O. Box 7264, Menlo Park, CA 94026.