The Family Guidance Center of Alabama held its 7th annual Families of the Year Award ceremony on Sunday, June 23. The center holds the award ceremony each year to recognize the foundation of our communities – the family unit. This year, the Murphy family of Birmingham’s Our Lady of Fatima Parish was one of two award recipients.

Families are chosen by a selection committee based on family teamwork, individual growth, and family involvement, which working together in everyday tasks or special, helping each other accomplish personal goals, and participating in community activities.

The Murphy family – Allen, Sr.; Pauline; Allen, Jr.; Alexandria; Andrew; Aaron; and Amy – exemplified teamwork, growth, and involvement.

When son Andrew donned the badge after Police Academy, grandparents Allen and Pauline stepped in to care for granddaughter Londyn, tackling the challenge of remote learning during the pandemic. Meanwhile, daughter Amy, with her mom as her sidekick and her brothers as her guardians, embarked on a journey to nurse practitioner status at UAB. Not to be outdone, the other children share their God-given talents with the entire family.

Mom Pauline was crowned “Ms. Super Senior Alabama,” sharing the message of senior vitality. The patriarch, Allen, Sr., is active in the Holy Rosary Food Pantry in Gate City and assists virtual lunch and learn webinars as a senior networking engineer. The matriarch, Pauline, was crowned Ms. Super Senior Alabama, sharing the message of senior vitality. She also helps 3rd graders involved with the Page Pal reading program. She also teaches Sunday school and is a community advocate.

Undoubtedly, the Murphy family is a shining example of what family is all about.