Jacqueline F. McLean-Murphy

Jackie McLean-Murphy was born Verna Jacqueline Fountain March 2, 1944 in Bluefield, West Virginia. She was the oldest of four children of the late Marie Fountain and retired Army Lt. Co. George L. Fountain, Sr. Jackie grew up in Virginia, New Jersey, the Philippines, France, Germany and New York. She graduated from Bayside High School in Queens, New York in 1962 and dreamed of studying fashion and design. Instead she entered the banking industry and attended the American Banking Institute in New York. She moved to Baltimore, Maryland and was the administrative assistant to the late Maryland State Senator Verda Welcome.At the age of 24, she married James H. McLean, Jr. on March 1,1968. She was commissioner for the Baltimore City municipal courts by day and received training in travel agency management by night. She opened the Four Seas and Seven Winds travel agency in 1976 with her husband. They grew the business to a multi-million dollar entity, which was recognized, as the largest black owned travel agency in the country by President Ronald Reagan in a White House ceremony. She gave birth to her only child Michelle McLean at the age of 28. Jackie McLean answered the call to enter public service and was twice elected to represent the second district on the Baltimore City Council first in 1983 and four years later 1987. In addition to completing a successful campaign in 1987, she was elected by her peers to serve as the City Council Vice President. She was a fierce competitor, in 1991; she ran for comptroller and was elected in a citywide contest, becoming the first African-American female to hold such and honor in a major U.S.city. In addition to continuing to assist in the overall operation of the travel agency and the demands of her constituents, Jackie still found time to volunteer and serve numerous civic and charitable organizations both locally and nationally. Jackie was diagnosed with major depression and resigned from public office in July 1994, but not from public service. She was divorced from Jim McLean in 1995 and married Arthur W. Murphy on November 28, 1998. During the last few years, Jackie was studying business at the University of Phoenix in Columbia, Maryland. Our shining star departed this life at the age of 57 on September 19,2001 at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland at 8:30 p.m. as a result of a sudden systemic infection. Jackie McLean was best known for her political insight, her intelligence a quick wit and sense of humor. She had and unshakable love for her entire family and was truly loved in return. She is survived by her father, George Louis Fountain, Sr., of Baltimore; one daughter, Michelle D. McLean of Baltimore; a husband, Arthur W. Murphy and stepdaughter, Claye Murphy of Baltimore; two sisters Wynnona Fountain Moore of Baltimore and Georgene Fountain of Germantown and a brother, George Louis Fountain, Jr., of Silver Spring; a brother-in-law, Virgil Moore; a sister-in-law, Renee Quick Fountain; nephews and nieces, Brian Fountain Moore and Yolie St. Vincent, Addai Borden, Shani Borden, Jamal Borden, Marie Fountain, George Louis Fountain III, and Shelby Fountain; aunts, Gertrude Sebastian, Sarah Wright and Verna Marshall; and first cousins, Maxine Fuller, Gwendolyn Wright, Matthew Wright, Myron Wright and Donna And Deborah Marshall; cousins, Doris Loper and Steven Willis; and former stepchildren, Darryl and Karen McLean.

Tributes

Jacqueline F. McLean-Murphy

March 2, 1944 - September 19, 2001