About Tonja

Tonja Murphy is an author, consultant, and motivational speaker. Ms. Murphy’s engagement with the community also includes serving as Community Engagement Coordinator for the Mississippi Book Festival, Mississippi’s literary lawn party.

When Ms. Murphy is not serving the community, she enjoys sharing tools to empower others to be their best self through books. Her most recent work, In God’s Hands, A Short Story Collection, is a gift to celebrate her oldest son’s birthday. Her love for writing has extended to platforms including the The Clarion-Ledger Newspaper, Mississippi Christian Living, Portico, and Woman to Woman with Joanne Magazine.

In 2012, Ms. Murphy was named Parent of the Year for the Jackson Public School District and finalist for Parent of the Year for the State of Mississippi. Tonja has been featured in the Jackson Free Press, WLBT’s Mississippi Strong Segment, and the Inaugural Edition of Who’s Who in Black Mississippi. She received the Community Impact Award from Butterflies by Grace Defined by Faith and honorable mention for the Governor’s Initiative on Volunteer Service Award. Ms. Murphy also received a resolution from the City of Jackson, Mississippi honoring her many years of service to the community.

Ms. Murphy holds a bachelor’s degree from Jackson State University. She is also a graduate of Leadership Greater Jackson and the Business Advantage for Professionals Program at Millsaps College. She is a graduate fellow of the Advanced Applied Leadership Program in the Else School of Business at Millsaps College.

*Photo by Chelsea Renea Photography