Pastoral Team

Pastor Murphy's Biography

Rev. Dante’ A. Murphy served as president of the Pender County Branch NAACP and currently serving as pastor of Manhollow Missionary Baptist Church in Hampstead, North Carolina. These posts come after serving as president of the Cleveland County Branch NAACP and pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Shelby, North Carolina.

Pastor Murphy was born and raised in Pender County, located in Southeastern North Carolina. As a child, he was captivated by the black church experience and felt early on God’s call upon his life. Having confessed Christ as his Savior, he was baptized and joined Point Caswell Missionary Baptist Church in Atkinson, North Carolina. At the age of nineteen Pastor Murphy preached his initial sermon and was ordained less than two years later by the Middle District Missionary Baptist Association as a result of being called to pastor Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church located in the Malpass Corner community of North Carolina. Early on in pastoral career he found himself thrust in the midst of community action groups and having to negotiate with elected officials on behalf of underprivileged citizens. His passion for civil rights was kindled in the mid-1990’s when participating in demonstrations to successfully oust a sitting district attorney for North Carolina's Fifth Prosecutorial District from office after the repeated use of a racial slur towards a black man during the DA’s visit at a local bar in in New Hanover County.

After enrolling in Gardner-Webb University in the mid-2000’s to purse a second postgraduate degree, Pastor Murphy moved to Shelby, North Carolina where he continued his life’s passion as a social worker, pastor, and civil rights leader. Pastor Murphy first made headlines during this time when he denounced the KKK as they allegedly started recruiting to increase membership in Cleveland County. When asked several years ago by a local newspaper about his thoughts on the possible resurgence of the KKK in Cleveland County he expressed a greater concern over North Carolina legislators who possessed the power to pass unjust laws that hurt North Carolinians across the state. He again made his way into newspapers and broadcasts when he spoke out about the county’s plan to redraw voting district lines, even being featured in a New York Times article. The New York Times newspaper coverage of Pastor Murphy untiring efforts quoted him as using such words as "disenfranchisement" and "conspiracy" to describe North Carolina majority legislative branch's attempts to pass numerous anti-voting laws. Pastor Murphy also gained notoriety and was highly publicized during the capture of Dylan Roof in Shelby, NC after he massacred nine blacks in a South Carolina church. Pastor Murphy and a few other pastors were credited in the media with keeping the peace in the city after racial tensions began to swelter and threaten the day to day living of its citizens. Due to Pastor Murphy’s involvement he, along with the city’s police chief, was granted clearance to attend the funeral of State Senator Clementa C. Pinckney, whereby United States President Barack Obama delivered the eulogy. Pastor Murphy’s fight for justice in Cleveland County spanned over ten years and included numerous rallies, demonstrations, legal proceedings and law suits, threats of incarceration, and employment discrimination as he sought to be a mouthpiece for the religious community and underprivileged citizens. 

Pastor Murphy received his preparatory education in the Pender County School System and subsequently went on to earn his undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 1994, a post-graduate degree from Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC in 2004, and another post-graduate degree from Gardner-Webb University in 2010. Pastor Murphy has also completed numerous other studies at Catawba College, Salisbury, NC, Shaw University, Raleigh, NC, Trinity Western University, Vancouver, Canada, and Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. For over twenty-five years he has served as pastor for churches in Pender, Sampson, Columbus, and Cleveland Counties. Pastor Murphy also served as First Vice-Moderator of the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Association while in Cleveland County where he was responsible for all budgetary and finance operations of the assembly of churches.

Pastor Murphy is a devoted husband to the former Dr. Kimberly Sabrina McDuffie, a loving father, and grandfather.

First Lady Murphy's Biography

Born as Kimberly Sabrina McDuffie, Dr. Murphy loves serving God. She is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was born and raised in Pender County. 

Dr. Murphy serves in the Onslow County School System as a School Administrator.  She has worked in education for over 20 years as a Business Teacher, Dean of Students, and School Administrator as well as teaching at the college level. She has taught psychology, leadership, management, and business for several colleges.  Dr. Murphy further served in the judicial system as support staff to the Superior Court Judges and worked as a property manager. Dr. Murphy has written and recorded gospel music and appeared on Word Network Channel, performing in several states and venues. She has performed as the opening songstress for Vickie Winans, Helen Baylor, Luther Barnes, and other gospel music vocalists. Dr. Murphy enjoys music of all genres. Dr. Murphy has also appeared in 2 movies: "Beautifully Insecure" and "Let Go and Let God".

Dr. Murphy has earned several degrees to include: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Master of Business Administration, Master of Psychology, and Doctor of Education. Dr. Murphy joined Hawes Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Atkinson, NC  in 1979 at the age of 7 years old. She remained at Hawes Chapel until adulthood. She then fellowshipped and served in the Church of God in Christ and Holiness Church for several years. In 1995, she became a born again believer. In 2008, she returned to her Baptist roots at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church-Masonboro Sound, Wilmington, NC until 2023.

Dr. Murphy is a Navy Veteran, where she served as a Religious Program Specialist, Naval Training Center Chaplain's Department, Orlando, FL. While living in Orlando, Dr. Murphy attended St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Orlando, FL where Rev. Fred Maxwell was pastor. She has served as a musician for Lake's Chapel Baptist Church, Atkinson, NC; Sandhill AME Church, Burgaw, NC; Gethsemane United Holiness Church, Hampstead, NC; Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church-Masonboro, Wilmington, NC; and Mount Pleasant AMEZ Church, Riegelwood, NC.

On December 21, 2022, Dr. Kimberly Sabrina McDuffie married Rev. Dante' Murphy in Key West, FL. On January 1, 2023, she became under watch care at Manhollow Missionary Baptist Church, with the blessings of her pastor and First Lady, Rev. Ben & Lady April Pittman.

Rev. & Dr. Murphy reside in Wilmington, NC. Dr. Murphy is currently a '24 New Hanover County Schools Board of Education Candidate. She continues to advocate for students and their parents. Dr. Murphy has a heart for people and loves doing the work of the Lord.