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48
New Rochelle, New York. Retired, Joe was a native of North Carolina and had won Vivian while there. For her part, Vivian was a native of Handsboro, Mississippi. Shortly after moving to Bay St. Louis, both then in their seventies, a neighbor had contacted Mrs. Beth Crimm, who told her pastor husband Terry, who immediately drove to the Murrows' home to invite them to come to the First Presbyterian church, since they were Presbyterians.
"No," Joe replied, "not this Sunday. We'll see you in a week, though." Which they did, and, although not everyone took an immediate liking to them, as a matter of fact some grumbling being heard, soon they were ensconsed in the church. They wouldn't leave, and soon almost everyone loved them. Now everyone does!
The 1976 budget of the church would be $22,917, it was noted. The membership would remain fairly steady at 103, and Bob Cuendet would be elected an Elder, as would a woman to the Diaconate.
There was a Special Easter Service this year, the Jews for Jesus sponsoring an evening program, which was well received, and received into membership of the church on November 14, 1976 would be retired Air Force Colonel Larry and Lucimarian Roberts, along with their beautiful daughter Robin, the second African American family to join. Larry was then employed at the NASA site. "I warned them," feisty Vivian Murrow would relate later, "that not everyone in the church would welcome them. There was some more grumbling; however, most in the church were good Christians." So were the Roberts. Outstanding ones. Gracious, too. Also joining then were Carol Page, Mack McCarty, and June, James and Joel Johnston. Jim Johnston would add his name to the rolls on January 16, 1977.
Further to be noted was the adoption of the rotation system for Elders at a congregational meeting held on November 21,	1976. Henceforth,
they would be elected for three-year terms and thereafter be ineligible for re-election, generally speaking, until sitting out one year off the Session. A bio step.
Dr. Russo and his family, it is finally to be