Obituary

Laenette Menionne Murphy (Redd-Reynolds) was born June 28, 1965, in Detroit, MI. Laenette was a member of Little Rock Baptist church where she was baptized at an early age.

She attended Lincoln Elementary, Spain Elementary-Middle School, Northeastern High School, and Murray Wright High School. Although she earned both a Pharmacy Technician’s Certificate and a Nursing Assistant’s Certificate, becoming a licensed beautician and business owner was where she expressed her life’s purpose. Laenette began doing hair in the 1980’s at Van Tinus where she determined that working for others was not for her. She continued her career at L’Swygert Salon in Detroit, and after moving to AZ in 2001, she worked at Smart Style Hair Salon, Ulta Beauty Salon, and Elysium Salon. Never giving up on her entrepreneurial dream of becoming a business owner, she achieved her goal in 2012 when she opened her own salon, Menionne’s Hair Studio.

Laenette was a beautiful, loving wife, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She was an amazing woman with a heart of gold who truly loved her family. Her sweet and loving personality made all who knew and loved her, feel special in their own way. She was a “by hair appointment” therapist and had a way of encouraging all who she encountered. Laenette enjoyed discussing current events and had a way of bringing light and laughter to every situation. When not caring for others, she enjoyed listening to music, watching movies (sometimes at the same time), cooking, and traveling.

Laenette and Lance have been together for 40 years. They met through her neighbor Quitman Slack, Lance’s cousin who lived 4 doors down from her. Lance would always ask his cousin if he could spend the night in hopes of seeing her. She thought Lance was hanging around to try and steal her bike but he was really trying to see her. She initially gave him a hard time but finally gave him a chance. Lance took her to a festival on their first date and they have been together ever since. Lance and Laenette got married on her birthday, June 28, 1988. She prided herself on being a devoted and supportive wife.

Laenette was preceded in death by her mother, Marcellette A. Reynolds ,her father, Percy W. Redd, Jr., her step-father, Theodore Reynolds, and her brother Stephen Reynolds. She leaves to cherish her memories the love of her life and husband of 34 years, Oliver Lancelot Murphy, her mother-in-law Lera E. Murphy, her siblings, Ingrid Reynolds-Braggs (Henry) of Merrillville, IN, Kimberly Redd-Phillips, and Percy Redd, III (Lindsey) of Detroit, MI; along with uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of other relatives and friends.

Special Message:

Here “sister girlfriends” would like to take a moment to thank Laenette for the unique gift that she gave every client. She did not just “do hair,” she created a safe and accepting space for all who knew her. She celebrated our every triumph and cried with us through every tragedy. She encouraged us to always be ourselves, express our thoughts ,and laugh as much as possible. But most importantly, she gave us her unconditional support and love just when we needed it most. You will be so very missed.

A visitation will be held 6pm, Wednesday, August 17 at Thompson Funeral Chapel in Goodyear, Arizona. The funeral service will begin at 7pm.