Memorial scholarship to honor life and work of journalist Molly Murray

Former and current Delaware journalists have inaugurated the Molly Murray Scholarship Fund in memory of the respected longtime reporter.

Murray, who died July 17 of complications from pancreatitis, worked for nearly 40 years as a reporter at The News Journal, covering the environment and everyday life in southern Delaware. She is widely remembered for her passion for the environment, her mastery of the storyteller's art and her ability to make deep connections with people from all walks of life.

The fund was created by Murray's former News Journal colleagues who worked with her in Sussex County.

"Molly guided and mentored several journalists over the course of her career. In her absence, they realize how deeply she shaped their approach to journalism and their outlook on life in general - and they want to keep her legacy alive," said Mike Rawl, director of the Greater Lewes Foundation, which will administer the fund.

News Journal Executive Editor David Ledford described her during a tribute as a truth-teller, impeccable researcher and tough interviewer. "But her greatness far exceeded her reporting prowess, her deep understanding of environmental issues and her ability to tell a story. Molly was a great human being. She also was a passionate citizen who cared about her state and her country," Ledford said.

Former reporter Mike Billington, who now resides in Spain, lived near Murray. He recalls one night when she, her partner Rob Davis and their daughter Halie knocked on his door and invited him to the beach so they could all see the rings of Saturn through a telescope. "That's the other side of Molly that I got to know so well - a woman who knew how to get the most out of every day and wasn't afraid to ask others to share the joy and wonder of life," Billington said.

Murray, a native of Dover who lived most of her adult life in Lewes, received a bachelor's degree in English from Beaver College (now Arcadia University), and a master's degree from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. In addition to her career, she was devoted to her family.

The Molly Murray Scholarship Fund will support students in Kent and Sussex counties who want to pursue careers in journalism or environmental studies. Applicants must be curious researchers committed to digging deeply for the truth and leading a life of integrity and purpose. Fund administrators hope to provide a $1,000 cash scholarship annually. With enough donations, a permanent endowment will be created to ensure a lasting legacy. The application process will run annually from Sept. 1 to March 31. More details will be available Thursday, Sept. 1.

To make donations to the Molly Murray Memorial Scholarship, mail to The Greater Lewes Foundation, P.O. Box 110, Lewes, DE 19958, or go to www.greaterlewesfoundation.org/murray.