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GREENSBORO — Greensboro civil rights attorney Romallus O. Murphy died Wednesday. He was 83.

His funeral is at noon Thursday at Genesis Baptist Church at 2812 E. Bessemer Ave., according to Hargett Funeral Service. A family hour will precede the service at 11 a.m.

Murphy’s work helped enact the Voting Rights Acts of 1965 and increase representation of black lawyers in the state court system.

Murphy, a native of Houston, graduated from Howard University in 1951 before earning his law degree in 1956 from UNC School of Law, where he was the only student of color. He began his career in Wilson, where he fought against what he considered unconstitutional election procedures.

Before beginning his practice in Greensboro, Murphy worked in Raleigh with renowned attorney Samuel Mitchell, who gave legal counsel to Martin Luther King Jr.

Murphy had served on the legal redress committee for the N.C. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People since the 1960s. In 2006, the group honored Murphy with a continuing legal education seminar bearing his name. The annual seminar aims to help lawyers refine their skills and renew their dedication to practicing law.

He also served in the Air Force, being honorably discharged as a captain.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the American Cancer Society, 4-A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407.

Contact Dioni L. Wise at 373-7090 or dioni.wise@news-record.com