Constance “Connie” Murphy Hatfield, 84, a long-time resident of LaPlace and Norco passed away Saturday, March 16, 2019.

Constance Janet Joiner was born July 30, 1934, in Cotton, Ga., the daughter of Hershel and Eloise Joiner.

She was a graduate of Andrew College in Cuthbert, Ga., class of 1953 and Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, class of 1973 & 1974, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master’s degrees in Early Childhood Education.

She married Norton Hendry Murphy in 1953, and they made their home in many places starting in Mount Pleasant, Ga.; Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Atlanta; Panama City, Fla., and then settled in LaPlace in 1969.

After Norton passed in 1989, Connie married Thomas “Tommy” B. Hatfield of Norco in 1993.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in LaPlace.

Connie taught kindergarten at LaPlace Elementary for 20 years from 1975 until her retirement in 1995, where she was beloved by parents and students.

She enjoyed traveling and visited most of the 50 states and many European countries over the years.

Connie was grounded in her faith and devotion in the United Methodist Church, which carried her through many rough and difficult times.

Devoted to her family, she loved hosting large family gatherings. She was truly blessed and had a wonderful smile that could light up a room.

Survivors include her husband, Tommy Hatfield of Norco; her three children, Norton “Tony” Murphy Jr. and his wife, Kushmala, of LaPlace, Teresa “Terri” Murphy of LaPlace and Kelly Murphy Gifford and her husband, Gerald, of Cumming, Ga.; two sisters, June Green of Shelby, N.C., and Gloria Murphy of Bainbridge, Ga.; and seven grandchildren, Misty and Charles Milioto, Rafferty and Rylie Gifford, Uttra, Gansham and Somraj Ri and seven great grandchildren who brought her much joy throughout the years.

She will be missed by Tommy’s children, Tom, Jim, Glen, Dan and Bob Hatfield, along with their spouses, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Connie was preceded in death by her first husband, Norton H. Murphy Sr. and sister Nancy Hickey of Camilla, Ga.

The visitation will be held at Millet Guidry Funeral Home, 2806 W. Airline Hwy. in LaPlace on Wednesday, March 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. and at First United Methodist Church, 301 Bamboo Road in LaPlace, on Thursday, March 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the service to immediately follow at 1 p.m.

Burial will be held on Saturday, March 23 in Sutton Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Bainbridge, Ga.

Please consider a donation in her memory to the National Kidney Foundation, 8200 Hampson St., Suite 425 in New Orleans, 70118 or the American Diabetes Association, P. O. Box 15829, Arlington, Va., 22215.

To view or sign the online guest book, visit milletguidry.com.