Cecil Murray, Pastor Who Calmed Los Angeles After ‘92 Riots, Dead at 94

Reverend Cecil Murray at Celebrate LA! in Los Angeles on June 7, 2013. Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES—The Rev. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray, who served as pastor of First African Methodist Episcopal Church for 27 years and was noted for his calming presence during the 1992 Los Angeles riots, has died at age 94.

Mr. Murray died Friday night following a series of recent health struggles, relatives told media outlets. His son Drew Murray told the Los Angeles Times that Cecil Murray died of natural causes at his home in the View Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.