Sarah Marjorie (Lord) Burch

Sarah Marjorie (Margie) Lord-Burch, age 95 of McRae, Georgia, passed away on Tuesday, June 20, 2023. She was born to the late Joseph Robert and Sarah Molcie Smith-Lord on August 30, 1927 at the Lord family farmhouse in Laurens County. Marjorie grew up in Dudley, Georgia and graduated from Dexter High School in Dexter, Georgia. She went on to study at Middle Georgia College in Cochran, Georgia where she met a young GI, D.J. Burch, of Rentz, Georgia, who was enrolling at MGC fresh out of the service. Margie Lord graduated in 1946 and enjoyed teaching school for several years at both Montrose Elementary and Cadwell High Schools before marrying her GI on June 1, 1947. After the newlyweds moved to McRae, Georgia, Mrs. Burch worked at Telfair County’s Production and Marketing Association for several years before she and D.J. started their family. Marjorie was raised in the Primitive Baptist faith at Trail Branch Church in Cochran, Georgia. Upon their marriage, Marjorie and D.J. became lifelong members of McRae First Baptist Church. Her faithful church service included Women's Missionary Union Director and member. She was dedicated to her school school class and served on the Hospitality Committee over the years. Duplicate Bridge was her passionate hobby and she was the longest serving Director and founding member of the McRae Duplicate Bridge Club.

Mrs. Burch is preceded in death by her husband, Dorris James (D.J.) Burch, her siblings, Delacy Lord, Marshall Lord, Russell Lord, Sam Lord and Imogene (Jeannie) Lord-Doyle, and her sister-in-laws and her brother-in-law, Gertraude (Trudy) K. Lord, Dorthy Jean Burch-Calhoun and Robert Hugh Calhoun, Sr.

Mrs. Burch is survived by her three daughters, Connie Burch-LaFavor (Wayne) of Wheeler County, Dr. Christy Burch-Stapleton (Jeffrey) of Telfair County and Ellen Burch-Burgess (James Briar) of Lee County, Ga. She will be sadly missed by her grandchildren and their children, Lori Jean Stapleton (Chris Peacock, Layla and Lili) of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Jeff Stapleton, Jr. of Austell, Georgia, Joseph Mark Stapleton and Markus of Lumber City, Georgia, Andy Roberson (Kaydee, Dalton, Kalli Jo, Kaylee Grace and Konner) of Glenwood, Hollie LaFavor Sanders (Clay and Miles) of Vidalia, Georgia, Edward Burgess (Rebekah and Teagan) and Samuel Burch Burgess of Lee County, Georgia. Mrs. Burch is also survived by her beloved sisters-in-laws, Carolyn Lord and Betty Lord Butler all of Laurens County and a host of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Friday, June 23 at 10:00 am at the McRae First Baptist Church in McRae, Georgia with services immediately following at 11:00. Mrs. Burch’s grandsons will serve as her pallbearers: Andy Roberson, Jeff Stapleton, Jr., Mark Stapleton, Edward Burgess, Samuel Burgess, Chris Peacock and Clay Sanders.