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Jeffie Murphy was the quintessential clairvoyant go-to for Dallasites in the ’60s, ’70s, and early ’80s. Those who went to Murphy seeking her wisdom deemed her to be “pretty darn accurate." Murphy provided readings out of her home, but also was a popular guest at street fairs and high society parties that amassed an abundant following.
One longtime Dallas resident, Martha Mezzaine, recalls:
“She was the ‘go-to person’ before all the 800-numbers came onto the scene as well as the ones that are open 24 hours and you see a neon “open” sign in the front room window.”
In March 1967, Murphy was among the elite chosen to entertain and mingle with guests at the exclusive Kiwi Club’s Zodiac Ball. She read palms, cards and fortunes during the high society soiree. The event hosted at the Sheraton by Dallas socialites was described as being “bigger and better than ever.” Murphy was a huge hit with attendees.
The News wrung forecasts from Dallas seers in December 1967 about what the weather conditions would be during the Cotton Bowl Parade that year. Game officials were concerned because the festivities had been blanketed in fog the year before. When asked about the weather for the events leading up to the big game, 65-year-old Jeffie Murphy predicted flatly:
“The weather will be nice on Monday, maybe a little cold, but nice. Go ahead and make your plans.”
Murphy wasn’t always predicting the weather or outcome of sporting events. She was often invited to entertain at street fairs to tell fortunes and read palms. In 1975, she was invited to serve as a well-regarded panelist for the Texas Society for Psychical Research at Bridwell Library at SMU alongside Dr. Edward Pullman.
Throughout her quite successful career of telling fortunes and palmistry, she accrued a large clientele base that would visit her regularly at her 1616 Fleetwood St. home near Fair Park.
Dallas resident Mandie Navarro remembers visiting Jeffie’s home for a reading:
“My friend took me to Jeffie’s home in 1979. Sitting at her dining room table, Jeffie did a reading using regular playing cards. She told me I would soon be hearing from a friend named, Charles. At first I thought she was incorrect. I didn’t know a Charles. Then I remembered that Charles is the English version of Carlos. I had recently vacationed in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where I dated a man named Carlos. Two days after the reading, I received a telephone call from Carlos (Charles).”
Others recall their parents frequenting Jeffie Murphy for readings, and they would tag along. Marc Perlstein fondly remembers his visits to Murphy’s home in the early ’60s:
“When I was a kid, my dad, Dr. Israel Perlstein, always had a very interesting group of friends. So it was no surprise when he took me with him to South Dallas to visit Jeffie Murphy, a well known psychic. It was a very small, cluttered house, close to Fair Park. Dimly lit and somewhat mysterious. So hearing that she told fortunes, I was kind of freaked out to start. Jeffie was a large woman with a very raspy voice. I remember he visited her often, even took my mom for a reading as well. Not sure each visit he made was for a reading since I think they were friends so he might have just been checking on her and her husband. Either way, it was always an adventure to go to her house. She was truly one of a kind and part of Dallas history for many.”
Jeffie Murphy passed away in 1988, but Dallas remembers her raspy voice and large presence fondly.
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