A Life Story

Obituary for Murray Mendel SilverHe was, by his own estimation, the finest criminal defense lawyer that ever lived. That he represented a Nobel laureate and the family of a second, Mafia dons and drug lords, in every State and at all levels of jurisprudence from municipal court to the US Supreme Court, besting US Attorney Rudy Giuliani along the way, and retired as a Judge after 50 years support his claim.He authored two books about his two dads:"This Bo Peep Ain't No Fairy Tale," a loving tribute to his father Wolfe Silver, the famous Savannah bootlegger, bookmaker and poolroom proprietor, and"Daddy King and Me," about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr., with whom he had a unique personal and professional relationship, the story of which he was most proud.Murray Silver wants to be remembered forGraduating from Benedictine Military School, 1947; Armstrong Junior College, 1951; University of Georgia Law School, 1953 andServed two years in the US Air Force during the Korean Conflict andServed as president of B'nai Brith in 1956 andEntered the private practice of law in 1953 andServed as General Counsel of the Georgia Department of Labor, 1968-70 andOrganized Little League baseball in Savannah in 1955 and won City championships as Coach of teams sponsored by Starland Dairies, First Federal Bank and Chatham Steel andPromoted boxing matches in Savannah, Brunswick and Atlanta, during which he discovered a young school teacher moonlighting as a boxer named Henry Matthews and managed him from his first pro fight all the way to a challenge for the US Light Heavyweight crown vs Bob Foster, andHe promoted rock concerts in partnership with his oldest son in Atlanta from 1969-80, bringing many future supergroups to the city for the first time, including Fleetwood Mac, the Grateful Dead, John Mayall, Sonny & Cher, Richard Harris, Billy Preston, andBred and raced thoroughbred race horses andServed as legal counsel and close personal friend to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr and Mrs. Coretta Scott King and her children, andServed as a member of the founding board of directors of the Martin Luther King Jr Center for Non-Violent Social Change from its inception until the death of Mrs. King andServed as legal counsel and finance chairman for every political campaign that Andy Young ever won, andWas appointed to a judgeship by Atlanta Mayor Andy Young at the end of his legal career.Murray was preceded in death by his father Wolfe Silver, mother Catherine Mendel Silver, brother Julian Silver; his wife of 73 years, Barbara Kahn Silver, who passed only 86 days ago, and daughter in law Cristina Piva Silver (Murray Jr.)Murray is survived by his sons Murray Jr. and Eric (Joan Blake Silver); brother Dr. Stanley Silver, and sister Kay Silver, numerous neices and nephews.The family thanks Tim Ansley, Robert Anthony, Nancy & Woody Brown and the staff of Magnolia Manor for their care of both Barbara and Murray Silver.In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests a donation be made in memory of Murray Silver to Benedictine Military School.Graveside service at Bonaventure Cemetery, Friday Oct 25 (Wolfe Silver's birthday) at 11 am. Rabbi Robert Hass officiating.