Murray Glenn, longtime spokesman for 7th Circuit Solicitor's Office, dies suddenly at 53

Murray Glenn, the public information officer, and administrator for the 7th Circuit Solicitor's Office, was pronounced dead on Friday, Jan. 13. He was 53.

Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger said Tuesday that while the autopsy is not final, issues related to Glenn's heart were discovered and deemed the primary cause of death. The death certificate is still pending because of other testing.

Glenn was discovered in his home on Jan. 13 by the coroner's office. Clevenger said his office was called to Glenn's residence on Friday afternoon after people at work were unable to reach him via telephone.

"I can't say enough about Murray," 7th Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette said. "He did so much for so many people."

Glenn's obituary states that he is survived by his parents, Martha McDonald Robinson and James H. Glenn, Jr.; his step-parents, Beverly Glenn and John Robinson; and his siblings, Marty Glenn Tomkins (Austin) and James Glenn, along with Murray's partner Belva Howard.

Glenn covered court cases for the Herald-Journal in the 1990's. He joined the Solicitor's Office as the public information officer in 2001 during Trey Gowdy's term as solicitor. When Barnette took office as Solicitor in 2011, Glenn became the office administrator.

Barnette said Glenn worked with victims, media, law enforcement agencies, fire departments, EMS and mentored interns in the office.

"Murray was known by everybody throughout our circuit - Cherokee and Spartanburg counties. He was so well thought of," Barnette said. "I don't know what we're gonna do without him. He did so many things for us."

A Spartanburg County social media post following Glenn's death read:

"Murray's love of his job and of Spartanburg County was undeniably deep and true.

He was known by his colleagues for his incredible kindness and caring spirit. He is remembered most for his unmistakable, infectious laugh and heart of pure gold.

Murray was a friend to everyone he encountered, and he had a real knack for making others feel special.

Murray, and the effect he had on so many of us, will never be forgotten. We are eternally grateful for his service and dedication to our County."

Lt. Kevin Bobo of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office also issued an email to the media and public, where he extended condolences to Glenn's loved ones on behalf of the Sheriff's Office.

"From his days as a reporter at the Spartanburg Herald-Journal to his current position, Murray was always a strong supporter of law enforcement and worked tirelessly to ensure crime victims received some measure of justice," Bobo said. "The social media posts since his passing confirmed what a lot of us already knew. Murray always put others before himself, and maybe the best way to honor his memory would be to try and emulate his selfless behavior."

Glenn's funeral will be at noon on Friday, Jan. 20, at J.M. Dunbar Funeral Home, located at 690 Southport Road in Roebuck.

In lieu of flowers, his obituary states memorials may be made to the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Benevolence Fund, Sheriff's Office, 8045 Howard Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302, or to First Tee Upstate, 3515 Pelham Road, Greenville, SC 29615.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Murray Glenn, spokesman for 7th Circuit Solicitor's Office, dies