Murrel David Culpepper1,2

Male, #57764, (18 Aug 1923 - 20 Apr 2003)

Parent*Charles David Culpepper3 (25 Apr 1893 - 13 Mar 1962)
Parent*Robena Bearden3 (5 Dec 1899 - 3 Aug 1986)
Murrel David Culpepper|b. 18 Aug 1923\nd. 20 Apr 2003|p57764.htm|Charles David Culpepper|b. 25 Apr 1893\nd. 13 Mar 1962|p11339.htm|Robena Bearden|b. 5 Dec 1899\nd. 3 Aug 1986|p57998.htm|William C. Culpepper|b. circa 1867\nd. before 1900|p1665.htm||||||||||

Birth*18 Aug 1923 He was born on 18 Aug 1923 at Illinois.4,5,3 
 He was the son of Charles David Culpepper and Robena Bearden.3 
1930 Census1 Apr 1930 Murrel and Cecil was listed as a son in Charles David Culpepper's household on the 1930 Census at Lincoln, Marion Co., West Virginia.3 
SSN*between 1936 and 1950 His Social Security Number was issued between 1936 and 1950 at Colorado.5 
World War II*circa 1943 He served in World War II circa 1943
(US Navy, Electrician's Mate 2C).6 
Residence*1945 He resided at Idaho in 1945.1 
Marriage*31 Dec 1971 He married Viola J. Duff at Placer Co., California, on 31 Dec 1971.4 
Biography*23 Jul 1995 Finding the Real Twang: Bluegrass Picking Up Fans like M. D. Culpepper
BY ANDREW C. REVKIN New York Times News Service

SHINHOPPLE, N.Y. -- Sitting in the shade thrown by a cordon of motor homes, M.D. Culpepper, 71, doffed his blue baseball cap, which was hand- embroidered with the words Bluegrass Junkie.

"When my wife died on the first of January, people said I should go to meetings," said the retired Kentucky-born coal miner. But instead of going to church, Culpepper sought solace in bluegrass, a raw-boned form of country music in which the singers play fiddles, banjos and guitars, harmonizing over love, usually lost, and liquor, preferably moonshine.

The blend of hillbilly strings and bluesy laments began 50 years ago with Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs.

For most of the year, Culpepper has been on a cross-country musical pilgrimage, traveling to a non-stop series of bluegrass festivals that began in Seattle in January, led to the Peaceful Valley campground here in the Catskills and would continue for him a week later in Texas.

At each stop, he settled in with several thousand devotees for day after day of singing and strumming, barbecue and beer.

"What do I need meetings for?" Culpepper asked. "Bluegrass is my family -- the biggest family in the world."7 
Death*20 Apr 2003 He died at Sheridan, Placer Co., California, on 20 Apr 2003.5 

Family 1

Frances Billie Harms (living)
Children

Family 2

Dora A. Wright (living)

Family 3

Viola J. Duff (circa 1929 - 1 Jan 1995)

Charts Descendants of Henry Harrison Culpepper of Nash Co., NC
Last Edited 30 Mar 2008

Citations

  1. The Enterprise, Brockton, MA.
    http://enterprise.southofboston.com
    Obituary of Murrel D. Culpepper Jr., published 16 Nov 2007.
  2. E-mail from Jimmy Reynolds (#58136), e-mail address, Seattle, WA to Warren Culpepper, Jan 2008.
  3. 1930 Federal Census, United States.
    ED 25-24, Sheet #11-B, Line 89, Family 209, Carolina St., Lincoln, Marion Co., W.VA
    Rent=$7, Radio=Yes, Farm=No
    Chada* Culpepper, Head, M, 35, M, md. @ 23, TN/TN/AL, Machine Operator, Coal mines, Vet=No
    Robena Culpepper, Wife, F, 30, M, md. @ 16, AL/AL/AL, Not employed
    Murrel Culpepper, Son, M, 6, IL/TN/AL
    Cecil Culpepper, Son, M, 2, TN/TN, AL
    *Indexed as “Chada”, actual name was Charles.
  4. Center for Health Statistics / California Department of Health Services / Sacramento CA, compiler, California Marriage Index, 1960-1985
    California Marriage Index, 1960-1985    , Online database at Ancestry.com, 2007.
    http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=1144
    Murrel D Culpepper, 48, married Viiola J Duff, 42, on 31 Dec 1971 in Placer Co., CA.
  5. U.S. Social Security Administration, compiler, Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Online database at Ancestry.com.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/vital/ssdi/main.htm
    Murrel D. Culpepper, 18 Aug 1923 - 20 Apr 2003, Sheridan, Placer Co., California 95681, SSN 521-24-6069 issued in Colorado before 1951
    (Why it is safe to publish Social Security numbers for deceased people: http://gen.culpepper.com/about/socialsecurity.htm).
  6. Bureau of Naval Personnel (Record Group 24 / National Archives at College Park MD), compiler, World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945, Online database at Ancestry.com, 2007.
    http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=1122
    Murrel David Culpepper, Electrician's Mate 2C, husband of Mrs. Frances Billie Culpepper, residing at 210 Appleway, Route 1, Couer d'Alene, Idaho, was Wounded In Action. Roll: ww2c_27.
  7. Lexington Herald-Leader (KY), Lexington, KY.
    http://www.kentucky.com
    Published Sunday, July 23, 1995 in MAIN NEWS Section, Page A8.