Episode Details

Welcome to a special live taping of the Emunah Podcast (Emunah is Hebrew for faith and belief), recorded at historic 15th Avenue Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. This sacred space holds deep family and historical significance for host Dr. Tamara Henry, whose grandfather, Rev. W. R. Murray, served as the churchs pastor for 24 years and helped shape generations of faith and community leadership.

This episode is the first installment of a two-part live podcast series exploring the theme Legacy, Memory, and Erasure. The series features descendants of Rev. Murray and his son, Walter R. Murray Jr., one of the first African American undergraduate students at Vanderbilt University and the universitys first Black trustee.

Episode One: Carrying Forward The Legacy We Inherit

In this episode, voices from the younger generation of the Murray family reflect on what it means to inherit a legacy shaped by faith, courage, and social change. Panelists explore the emotional weight of legacy, the responsibility to preserve history, and how storytelling protects family and community memory from being forgotten or erased.

The conversation asks essential questions:

• What does it mean to carry a legacy you didnt choose?
• When does legacy feel like a giftand when does it feel like a burden?
• How do younger generations honor the past while shaping the future?

Through personal stories and honest reflection, this episode highlights how identity, faith, and memory shape the way legacy moves forward across generations.

Featured Panelists

Simone Murray Thomas

Simone Murray Thomas is the granddaughter of Rev. Murray Sr. and daughter of Walter Junior Murray and Donna Taylor. She works as a biocompatibility scientist for a major medical device company and lives in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, with her husband Mike and their pets.

Charisse O. Henry

Charisse O. Henry, a great-granddaughter of Rev. Murray Sr., serves as a Patient Services Administrator at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (Queens). A former classical pianist, she has traveled internationally for work and study, including time in Venezuela and the Commonwealth of Dominica. She is the daughter of James and Tamara Henry and granddaughter of Lillian Murray Cooke.

Capt. Brian Jackson

Captain Brian Jackson is a United Airlines pilot based at Los Angeles International Airport and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP). With an extensive background in aviation mentorship and leadership, he represents the continuing impact of legacy through professional excellence and service. He is the grandson of Dr. John S. and Mrs. Etna Jackson, descendants of Rev. Murray Sr.

Key Takeaways

• Legacy is not only what is left behindit is