Santa took a different route to a Pleasantville family recently displaced by a fire.
Since losing everything in an early morning blaze at their West Decatur Avenue home, the Murphys were counting their blessings a little differently.Leslie Murphy, her three grown children and five grandchildren have been staying wherever they could over the last week. Her oldest child, Tamara Murphy, even slept in her car."When your friends ask what you got for Christmas, just tell them you got your family," Tamara Murphy told her 5-year-old daughter.But on Christmas Eve, the family of nine got a lot more than that.Local Elder James Pressley called Tamara Murphy saying he wanted to help the family. "An hour later, he had everything set up," she said. "It was just so fast. It was a blessing."Pressley told the family he got them two adjoining rooms at a local hotel. But he didn't meet them there empty-handed."I didn't have time to go shopping," Pressley said. "So I took the presents meant for my kids and filled up my car."Tamara Murphy was amazed."I thought that was a wonderful thing," she said. "He's teaching his kids at a young age that there are people less fortunate. If you've got it, give."I think that's what we all should be teaching our kids," she added.Pressley said when he read about the fire on BreakingAC, he thought the need was met. Then a relative of the family contacted him."I felt compelled to respond to the emergency, even more so since it's Christmas and kids are involved," he said.He said it's a teaching moment for his children: "It's better to give than receive.""I'm sure my kids have a new list made for me to replace their things," he added.In the meantime, the Murphys have something to celebrate with a place to stay until Dec. 30, and presents for Christmas.They will also have Christmas dinner with Pressley and Pleasantville Board of Education President Carla Thomas."I already was grateful that my family made it out OK," Murphy said. "Just talking about it brings tears to my eyes."The family lost everything in the fire, so if anyone is willing to donate clothing or other necessities, it would be appreciated, Murphy said.She lived in the Pleasantville home 24 years, with her mother, Leslie Murphy; sister, Joyce Murphy, and brother, Benjamin Evans.Her children 5-year-old Kayoni and 13-year-old Nahki take size 8 in girls and 18 in boys, respectively.Joyce Murphy's children are: Nyasia, 2, size 5T; Kayon, 5, size 8 boys, and Nameer, 12, size 18 boys.Anyone willing to give can contact Pressley at jamespressley@live.com.
