The Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation

11/21/2025

Ahead of Jayna’s birthday on November 22, we’re taking a moment to remember Jayna Troxel Murray. She was a vibrant soul who loved the arts, travel, academics and lived boldly. Jayna’s legacy continues through the Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation, which supports the very schools and programs that shaped who she was.

This year we’re sharing something important: our annual holiday ornaments, which many of you have supported, won’t be available. We put a lot into trying, but this year’s challenges simply stretched us too thin. We’re sorry to those who looked forward to them, and we thank you for understanding.
We fully plan to bring the ornaments back next year, refreshed and meaningful as ever.

On Jayna’s birthday, this Saturday, November 22, we invite you to honor her by doing something slightly outside your comfort zone and reaching out to a friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Jayna lived with purpose and presence. Let’s bring a little of that into our day today.

Thanks to everyone who keeps her memory alive and supports the Foundation’s work of opening doors in arts, education and adventure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y01gDFp9Z4g

11/21/2024

As we approach the holiday season, we are reminded of the incredible light and love that Jayna brought into the world. Her passion for life, her kindness, and her joyful spirit continue to inspire everything we do.

This year, we are proud to offer the 2024 Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation Holiday Ornaments. These ornaments are a beautiful way to honor Jayna’s legacy and support the causes that were close to her heart. Every purchase helps us fund programs and initiatives that reflect her values and keep her memory alive.

We invite you to join us in celebrating Jayna by purchasing an ornament, sharing this post, or simply keeping her in your thoughts this season. Together, we can continue to shine her light in the world.

Order yours here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1815584516/the-jayna-troxel-murray-foundation-2024 💜

Thank you for helping us honor Jayna and make a difference in her name.

This Christmas Ornaments item is sold by TJTMF. Ships from Henrico, VA. Listed on Nov 21, 2024

11/19/2023

Update to this morning’s post - we are happy to announce that we will carry a flag across the finish line, of a 2024 race, in memory of JAYNA TROXEL MURRAY - George Washington University 🇺🇸

We could not do this without the support of The Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation. Please consider supporting them as well ❤️

11/18/2023

11/18/2023

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1613480737/the-jayna-troxel-murray-foundation-2023

This Christmas Ornaments item is sold by TJTMF. Ships from Keller, TX. Listed on Nov 17, 2023

11/18/2023

Soon, as snowflakes gently blanket the earth, we fondly recall Jayna's joyful spirit, immortalized in the playful moments captured alongside her snowman—The Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation is proud to present this year's 2023 unique snowman ornament.
In the spirit of Jayna's love for the season, this handcrafted wooden ornament carries the warmth of her signature J. It's a heartfelt reminder that Jayna's presence continues to grace our festivities, illuminating our hearts with her radiant smile during the holiday season.
This year, we commemorate Jayna’s birthday on November 22nd, the Foundation will once again bestow scholarships in her name, perpetuating the educational and personal development pursuits she held dear. These scholarships are a testament to the generosity that you, our community, have extended since 2011.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1613480737/the-jayna-troxel-murray-foundation-2023

12/03/2022

Thank you for all of the support to The Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation. We have had a great response to this year’s ornament. This is the last weekend to place an order. Happy Holidays!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1342617281/the-jayna-troxel-murray-foundation-2022?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=jayna&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&frs=1&edd=1&organic_search_click=1

11/09/2022

The Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation 2022 Christmas Holiday Ornament is now available. We hope that this year’s ornament brings joy, peace, and love to all.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1342617281/the-jayna-troxel-murray-foundation-2022?ref=listings_manager_grid

11/14/2021

This year, for the eighth consecutive year, The Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation is offering a custom made acrylic tree ornament to honor the memory of Jayna Murrat. This year's ornament is the beautifully hand-crafted ballet slippers by Jayna’s friend, Emma Denvir, an extremely talented designer and the founder of Denvir Enterprises. Thank you, again, Emma! Ballet slippers, with their ability to elevate a dancer both literally and metaphorically to a superhuman realm, are the ultimate symbol of a ballerina’s (and Jayna’s!) ethereality and hard work. Jayna was a long time dancer. Her formal ballet training started at age four at the Houston Ballet Academy, and she later expanded her repertoire to jazz, hip hop, and tap, each one a unique and beautiful mode of expression. Anyone who knew Jayna can attest to her passion for expressing herself through dance! As this ornament graces your home during the holidays, we hope you remember Jayna's love of dance plus your special times dancing.

The Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation is excited to share the eighth annual holiday ornament to honor the memory of Jayna Murray. This years ornament is beautifully hand-crafted ballet slippers by Jayna’s friend, Emma Denvir, an extremely talented designer and founder of Denvir Enterprises. Thank you...

02/02/2021

It's hard to believe that it was ten years ago next month that my sister, Jayna, was murdered. Ten years is a long time, and yet it seems like yesterday. At the time of her murder, I was deployed to Iraq. I returned from my deployment to bury my sister, and just a few weeks later returned to Iraq to complete my mission.

I was recently interviewed by Greg Sher from NFM Lending about Jayna and the events surrounding her tragic murder. It is hard to speak about the loss of Jayna, but it is a delight, and important to me, to keep her memory alive by speaking about her adventurous spirit, joy for life, and zest for learning. I am so moved by the thoughtfulness, caring and respect shown to me, my sister, Jayna, and my family by Greg Sher and the NFM team. I am also grateful for their generous support of The Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation.

The Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation is a foundation established in Jayna’s name to support and promote the interests and passions that enriched Jayna’s life, by making them available to others in hopes of similarly enriching their lives. The Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation provides scholarship funds to help assist individuals in having access to the same programs in which Jayna participated and which played an important role in making her the special person that she was. The programs in which Jayna participated, and which receive funds from The Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation are the St. Louis University Madrid study abroad program, Semester at Sea, George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, The Houston Metropolitan Dance Center, and Kamp Kanakuk. https://www.facebook.com/NFMLending/videos/399253931372324

11/22/2020

We are so grateful for your continued support. In honor of Jayna’s 40th birthday, today, The Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation distributed scholarship funds in the amount of $4,200.00 to George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University – Carey School of Business, Saint Louis University – Madrid Campus, the Institute for Shipboard Education – Semester at Sea, Kanakuk Ministries, and the Houston Metropolitan Dance Center.

The Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation was founded in Jayna’s memory in an effort to support and promote the interests and passions that enriched Jayna’s life by making them available to others in hopes of similarly enriching their lives.

Without you, The Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation would not be where it is today and where it will be in the future.

To communicate with the foundation or to make financial contributions, please write to:
The Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation
P.O. Box 9492
The Woodlands, Texas 77387-9492

Happy 40th Birthday, Jayna!

11/09/2020

Please consider helping The Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation. For the seventh year in a row, The Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation is offering for sale a custom made acrylic tree ornament to honor the memory of Jayna Murray. This year's “hope” ornament is a timely sentiment this holiday season. Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one's life or the world at large. As a verb, its definitions include: "expect with confidence" and "to cherish a desire with anticipation." Anyone who knew Jayna can attest to the fact that Jayna was an eternal optimist and spreader of hope, in that she expected positive outcomes, and would not accept anything less than that! May this year's “hope” ornament represent one of Jayna’s most memorable character traits and provide a keen reminder to family and friends alike that Jayna is ever-present in their lives, and in particular, during the holiday season.

For the seventh year in a row, The Jayna Troxel Murray Foundation is offering for sale a custom made acrylic tree ornament to honor the memory of Jayna Murray. This years “hope” ornament is a timely sentiment this holiday season. Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectatio...