From "The Elberton Star"; July 26, 1900
CAPTAIN T. C. BURCH, SR., DEAD.
-------------
After a Long Illness a Venerable Gentleman Passes Away.
On Sunday, the day set apart by the Father Almighty as a day
of rest, the spirit of Captain
T. C. Burch, Sr., took its flight to rest forever with the
redeemed ones on the celestial shore.
Captain Burch's death was not unexpected. He has been confined to his room since
February, since which time his life has been slowly but
surely ebbing away until the end came at 9 o'clock Sunday morning.
Captain Burch was born in this county sixty-eight years ago,
and was a man who was favorably known by all our citizens.
In 1856 he was married and has lived to rear a large family
of ten children, the names of whom we give below: Mr. J. L. Burch, of Texas;
Mrs. J. M. Carlton, Mt. Carmel, S. C.;
Dr. J. J. Burch, Double Branches, Ga.; Miss Bell Burch, T.
C. Burch, Jr., H. M. Burch and W. L. Burch, of Elberton. His children and good wife were constant
attendants at his bedside, and although they did all in their power to relieve
his suffering he was doomed and met the last enemy death – as only a brave
Christian can.
When the civil war broke out Captain Burch was among the
first to answer his county's call, and at the cessation of hostilities have
risen to the rank of staff officer. He
was as brave and fearless as a lion, but always kind and considerate to the men
under him.
He joined the Methodist church forty-two years ago, and for
fifteen years was the teacher of class fifteen, a class which educated a young
lady and did other numerous charities.
He was beloved by his pupils, who gave their hearty
co-operation in the work. He was always
a regular attendant at church, Sunday school and prayer meeting until his
health failed him, and was an ardent church worker.
Captain Burch was a man who possessed a high moral standing,
was a brave soldier, a good citizen, a kind neighbor, a Sunday school teacher
and a trustee of the church at the time of his death, a good Mason, a kind husband,
an indulgent father, a faithful member of the church and a man who has not
lived his allotted number of years in vain.
The funeral services were conducted at the house at 9
o'clock Monday, at which time,
Rev. S. R. Belk conducted his funeral. His brother Masons then took charge and intered his body at the cemetery with Masonic honors.
