Biography:
Joy Murphy is currently serving her second term representing the 6th Ward. A native Quad-Citian, Alderwoman Murphy has lived in Rock Island practically her whole life, besides a three year period where she lived in Iowa and North Carolina. Joy was appointed by the Mayor to complete the term of an Alderman who had resigned in April of 2005 and was elected to the City Council in May of 2007. Her term will expire May 1, 2011.

Alderwoman Murphy was a graduate of Alleman Catholic High School and went on to attend Black Hawk College. Alderwoman Murphy is the owner/designer of Aunt Joy’s Personalized Christmas Stockings, an internet mail order company.

Alderwoman Murphy has a husband, Joe; two sons, Sean and Seamus; two daughter-in-laws, Cheryl and Lynn; and three wonderful grandchildren. In her free time, Alderwoman Murphy enjoys sewing (especially Christmas Stockings), gardening, and enjoys genealogy and recording the history of her family from Ireland and Sweden and their journey to the Quad Cities. When asked her favorite things of Rock Island, Alderwoman Murphy replied, “I love the people of Rock Island. We are so diverse yet we all have a common and very strong pride in our community and it is that pride in our community that allows us all to work together to accomplish great things that benefit everyone.”