Dr. Myranell Clark Burch, age 88, of Eastman passed away Saturday, July 11, 2015 at her home.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Sunday, July 19, 2015 at the Eastman First United Methodist Church with Rev. Rick Mitchell and Rev. Brad Dowdy officiating. Visitation will be from 3 until 5 p.m. Saturday afternoon, July 18, 2015 at the funeral home.
Dr. Burch was a native of Dodge County, daughter of Albert Earl and Myrtice McElheney Jackson, and foster daughter of William Lawton and Ethel McElheney Parkerson. Dr. Burch was preceded in death by her parents, her ex-husbands, Olen B. Clark and Will A. Burch, and five siblings: Virginia J. Wrenn, Albert E. Jackson Jr., Hazel J. Bartee, Marcus L. Jackson, and D. McElhehey Jackson.
She is survived by three children, A. Lawton Clark of Eastman, Nancy C. Heath of Dublin, and Susan C. Barlow of Eastman; four grandchildren, Myra Zoe Kathleen Rozier Yawn, Winifred Hollingsworth Heath, Edith McElheney Hodges (Cyle), and Solomon Clark Tilford Heath; great grandchildren, Christopher John Rozier, Mahaley Elizabeth Rozier, William Jackson Hodges, and Benjamin Olen North-Heath; great-great grandchild, Eli John Clark Rozier.
Dr. Burch was a member of the Eastman First United Methodist Church and the William Few Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In her youth she was a member of New Union Baptist Church, where she served for many years as Sunday school teacher, pianist, WMU leader and quarter member.
Dr. Burch was a charter member and Past President of the Georgia Association of School Psychology, charter member and Past President of The Eastman Pilot Club, Charter member of the Alpha Phi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, and a member for many years of the local branches of the state education associations. She earned degrees from Georgia State College for Women, Mercer University, and the University of Georgia, and spent her professional career in the educational and psychological fields. She taught English and served as counselor and assistant principal at the Dodge County High School, served as School Psychologist at The Heart of Georgia Regional Educational Services Agency (RESA), and in the Wilcox County School System. She also served in the local juvenile educational programs for the Department of Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice. She was the first female Dodge County jury duty member. She also engaged in the private practice of Psychology.
She will be remembered for her bright smile, warm hugs, positive outlook and selfless devotion to helping others.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Dr. Myra Clark Burch's memory to Faithful Hearts Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 5014, Eastman, Ga. 31023.