Today we’d like to introduce you to Michele Murphy & Francoise McDaniel.
Michele Murphy & , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Magnolias Room is a family-owned, woman-owned event venue located in the heart of Riverdale, Georgia. The name “Magnolia” holds a special place in my heart—it was my great-grandmother’s name, and it felt only fitting to honor her legacy through this space that brings people together.
The idea for Magnolias Room came to life thanks to my Aunt Michele, who recognized my passion and creativity from planning our family events. I handled everything—purchasing, planning, setup, and breakdown—so all our guests had to do was show up and enjoy. One day, she asked me what my vision was for the future, and that conversation sparked the idea of opening a venue.
We spent a year searching for the perfect location, but after countless tours and disappointments, I was ready to give up. My aunt, however, refused to let the dream die. Months later, she called me out of the blue and said, “I found it.” I had no idea she was still looking! I met her at the property, and honestly, it was a mess—black walls, ugly carpet, and a gloomy atmosphere. But then she led me to what truly made the space special.
On one of the walls was a scripture—Jeremiah 29:11. The building had once been a children’s church. That verse brought me to tears because my son, Jeremiah, passed away in 2020 from DIPG, a rare brain tumor. In that moment, I knew it was a sign. That scripture was our confirmation that this was meant to be. My aunt looked at me and said, “Sign the lease, girl—this is it.”
From there, we went to work—tearing down walls, pulling up carpet, hiring (and sometimes firing) contractors. It wasn’t easy, but a few months later, Magnolias Room bloomed into the beautiful space it is today: a gathering place for joy, love, and celebration.
Losing my child taught me how precious life is and how important it is to celebrate every moment. That’s the spirit behind everything we do. At Magnolias Room, we cater to all budgets—because everyone deserves the chance to celebrate, no matter their income. Our mission is simple: to create meaningful memories and provide exceptional service for every guest who walks through our doors.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like I mentioned, I had actually given up at one point. We toured so many venues trying to find the right one—that journey alone was exhausting. Once we finally found our space, the real work began. Dealing with contractors and seeing how some of them operated was truly eye-opening. Then came the financial side—looking at all the invoices and wondering how we were going to make it all happen. It was a challenge, to say the least. But through it all, we pushed forward, stayed faithful, and here we are today!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My aunt built her career as a nurse, beginning in the Grady Health System and later transitioning into hospice care. I, Francoise, come from the staffing industry, which has helped me develop the organizational and people skills I use every day in running our business. Both of our fields are customer facing so we pride ourselves on our customer service.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
We are open books, we hold nothing back…lol
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.magnoliasroom.com
- Instagram: @magnoliasroomevents
- Facebook: @magnoliasroom
- Other: tiktok @ magnoliasroom
Image Credits
Photo credits Francoise McDaniel
