Dina Lynn Murray died Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at her home in Emerald Isle, North Carolina. She was 63.

Dina was born Tuesday, March 19, 1963, in Manhattan, New York City, New York, to the late Deanne “Dee” (née Garfield) and James “Jim” Murray.

She grew up in Morehead City, North Carolina, and was a 1981 graduate of West Carteret High School. She graduated from Appalachian State University, where she studied history and was a member of Delta Zeta Sorority’s Lambda Phi chapter.

Dina moved to Washington, DC, and began a career in marketing and public relations. She made her home in Alexandria, Virginia, where she proudly served as the Membership Programs Manager for national organization Geico-BoatUS for many years and met her husband, John Gerndt. In 2017, the two moved to Emerald Isle, NC, fulfilling Dina’s dreams of returning permanently to Carteret County and living nearer to her younger sister, Lisa McLawhorn.

With a faithful servant’s heart, Dina generously donated her time to others. She volunteered as a literacy tutor, teaching immigrants how to read; she worked at soup kitchens, food banks, a crisis center; and she delivered meals to those without food. She was involved with yoga and women’s prayer guilds. She was a traveler, a voracious reader, and always took the time to send a handwritten note to thank or uplift others.

Her happiest times were directing her efforts toward helping others and enjoying trips with her husband, John, or sister, Lisa, and niece, Madison.

Dina adored her furry, four-legged son, Bodie, and it was heartbreaking for her to give Bodie to her brother- and sister-in-law Bob and Rose Gerndt due to her illness.

Dina received many awards for her efforts in the community and for being a diligent and loyal employee. One award she was most proud of was being named the 2025 Southeast District Administrative Professional of the Year for her work with the Carteret County Cooperative Extension office.

She was a member of Swansboro United Methodist Church and deeply valued her relationship with God. She will be remembered as a true Christian who put others first and embodied what it means to extend forgiveness and grace.

For the past 16 months, Dina persevered with unwavering determination to beat Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). She had previously fought and overcome two distinct types of breast cancer.

She is survived by her husband, John Gerndt; sister, Lisa McLawhorn (Sonny); niece, Madison McLawhorn Strickland (James). She is predeceased by her mother, Deanne Murray.

A service will be held Sunday, June 21, at 4:00 PM at Swansboro United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider donating blood and platelets through American Red Cross, or join the registry to donate bone marrow, to give hope to others suffering from Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Memorials may be made to Carteret County Humane Society.

“God is within her, she will not fall.” Psalm 46:5.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.