Help A Doting Father Fulfill His Only Child's Dying Request

Marlena Denise Murphy died of Triple Negative Breast Cancer in Atlanta, Georgia, at 46 years old. Like so many others, she was a single mom who poured her heart and soul into raising her only daughter. Although Marlena worked hard and built a secure and strong foundation for her daughter, she could not afford the necessary life insurance to cover funeral expenses, miscellaneous expenses, and transportation to her final resting place in Washington, D.C., her hometown. Everyone who knew Marlena loved her as a mother, neighbor, friend, relative, Uber driver, stadium worker on game day at the Atlanta Falcons Football Stadium, volunteer at her daughter’s school, and most of all, dedicated Breast Cancer Awareness counselor. At one point, the Atlanta Falcons used their halftime to call Marlena down to the field to honor her efforts to promote Cancer Awareness.

Marlena was truly special. She had an infectious personality. After achieving her lifelong goal of completing her master’s degree, she traveled throughout the country promoting Cancer Awareness, encouraging and inspiring many others. As Marlena faded away during her last days, she expressed her desire to be with her (deceased) mother buried in Washington, D.C. Her father, Dalton Howard, Jr., wants to make Marlena’s last dying request a reality, but he needs your help. He wants to hold a memorial service in Washington, DC, befitting his daughter's life and truly celebrate the many acts of courage she displayed throughout her life’s journey. Marlena’s grieving father is distraught over the death of his daughter and, as a senior citizen, has limited means to help create a lasting memory for the family. The family would appreciate any contribution you could make to bring peace of mind to the family during this most difficult time.