Tornado survivor Came'Ron Murphy overcomes tragedy, focuses on education

Came’Ron Murphy is the epitome of strength, especially after what he’s been through and what he’s accomplished.

On April 25, 2019, his life was forever changed. As an F3 tornado ravaged Ruston, it also took the life of his mother, Kendra Butler, and brother, Remington.

Such a devastating loss would be powerful enough to dismantle anyone’s life journey, even more so a survivor of the storm itself.

“It was traumatic and unimaginable for him,” said grandmother Cathey Jackson. “His whole life changed in the blink of an eye.”

What never changed was Murphy’s determination to make his mother and brother proud. Despite the trials, temptations, and mental battles endured, it has helped him arrive where he is today. And that’s a young man on the brink of becoming a college graduate.

“There was never any doubt in my mind that he would continue on to college,” Jackson noted. “It had been a dream his mother had nurtured while pursuing her master’s degree from GSU (Grambling State University). Even with the pain of losing his mother and brother, their memories inspire him and give him the strength to face whatever comes his way. Everything he does is in their memory. He tells me all the time, he is doing it for them.”

A 4.0 student named to the President’s List, Murphy is set to graduate from Northwestern State University next week. With a degree in graphic communications/ graphic design, he plans to work in the design field with advertisement and logo creation. Murphy admits arriving at this accomplishment hasn’t been easy.

“I would best describe my college experience as a rollercoaster,” Murphy said. “Coming in fresh after the accident really took its toll on me mentally. From freshman year up until the start of my junior year had to be the most difficult. There was a constant feeling of being lost and unfocused. There were plenty of tough talks with myself, family, and friends to get me back on track and motivated.”

Murphy said while his college experience had many ups and downs, it made him work harder for what he wanted in life. In fact, he made a somewhat surprising admission about his experience.

“If given the opportunity I would do it over!” Murphy added. “I’ve enjoyed my time studying here at Northwestern State. The good times with friends, getting to know and meet new people and creating memories with my classmates has been my favorite part by far.”

However, not far from enjoying his time as an NSU Demon was always the memory lost loved ones. He said what kept him going was the possibility of being a failure. Because the one thing his mother wanted more than anything was for her two boys to succeed with whatever they did in life.

“She knew I loved art, sports, and sciences so she would always tell me, “Keep everything you do. Someone somewhere will like your work even if you don’t,” Murphy recalled. “She was my role model with how hard she worked and provided for me and my brother. Likewise, I believed my little brother looked up to me as someone to pave the way. I knew I had to make the right decisions for him to follow.”

As Murphy navigated his way through Ruston High School after the accident, he said his focus was strictly for his mother and brother. Describing them as his “lifeline,” he knew they were the two pieces of him that would always be there.

“My focus was completely rattled when I lost them,” Murphy said. “College was extremely difficult for me at first, but I eventually regained focus. I knew I had family that wanted me to succeed and that gave me the motivation to keep going. My mom would be so proud that I stuck with it. Even when times were hard and I would struggle, knowing I pushed to get my degree would definitely make her proud.”

Outside of his family ties, Murphy adds that Ruston played a significant role in his ability to move forward and succeed. He describes the feeling of everyone wrapping their arms around him after the accident and the close-knit community that laid the groundwork for a similar small-town experience in Natchitoches. He recalls how the collective influence of mentors and experience helped him reach this mountaintop achievement.

“I will always take with me that I have learned from this experience,” Murphy said. “To expect the unexpected and be prepared for any hardships along. As I enter my young adult phase, I hope to grow more as a person, designer, and artist. I would also like to take the advice of my mentors with me and build upon it. There will be many challenges along the way, but I know I can adjust and thread my way through them.”