The Governor of South Carolina advises to limit public gatherings to 50 guests or less to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Smith Funeral Home of Florence, LLC carefully considered this recommendation and ask that additional guest please participate via live-streaming if it is authorized by the family.
Private Funeral service Mrs. Shirley Mae Burch will be conducted 12 Noon Thursday, April 23, 2020 at J. O. & Annette Smith Memorial Chapel, 307 S. Johns St., Florence. Interment will follow in Florence National Cemetery, directed by Smith Funeral Home of Florence, LLC.
Mrs. Shirley Mae Burch, the daughter of the late William Dicker and Edna Mae Dicker, was born January 6, 1951 in Williamsburg County. God called her home on April 19, 2020.
Shirley attended Stuckey Elementary School and was a proud graduate of Wilson High School in Florence, South Carolina.
Shirley was joined in marital bliss to Willie Frank Burch on June 27, 1969 and recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. To this union five children were born.
Shirley was employed with General Electric in Florence, South Carolina, where she retired after several years of service.
After accepting Christ as her Lord and Savior, Shirley became a member of Florence Baptist Temple of Florence, South Carolina in 1977 and later served as a Sunday School Teacher.
Shirley’s love for God showed in the life she lived. She exemplified her faith in God, shared her testimony and witnessed with everyone she met.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, William Dicker and Edna Mae Dicker; and three brothers, William Dicker, Jr., Harry Lee Dicker, and Willie Ray Dicker.
Shirley leaves to cherish her precious memories: her committed husband, Willie Frank Burch, Sr. of Florence, South Carolina; five children, Shirlvena Brown of Florence, South Carolina, Willie F. Burch, Jr. and wife, Beatrice Burch of Suffolk, Virginia, Darren Lee Burch of Florence, South Carolina, Thellanda Burch of Florence, South Carolina , and Joshua Lee Burch of Florence, South Carolina; thirteen grandchildren, Angel Brown, Traquel Burch (Kel), Tyquan Crawford (Quan), Daija Burch, Ahnesha Burch, Maurice Brown, Tashira Burch, Ariel Burch, Darren Burch, Jr. (DJ), Amani Burch, Tahja Burch, Aaliyha Burch, and Jakayla Davis; two great grandchildren, Timothy Howe, Jr. (TJ) and Trenton Howe; seven siblings, Marjorie Cooper of Passaic, New Jersey, Alfred Dicker and wife, Rosa Dicker of East Orange, New Jersey, Mary Ellen Cunningham of Middletown, Connecticut, Linda Dicker of Passaic, New Jersey, Judy Daniels and husband, Leroy Daniels of Pamplico, South Carolina, Levern Dicker of Florence, South Carolina and Morris Earl Dicker of Lodi, New Jersey; five sisters-in-law, Georgia Belin of Florence, South Carolina, Dianne Barr and husband, Ernie Joe Barr of Florence, South Carolina, Donette McCaskill and husband, Michael McCaskill of Florence, South Carolina, Donna Marie Richardson of Florence, South Carolina and Rosa Lee Bostick of Middletown, Connecticut; and a host nephews; nieces; other relatives; and friends.
Please keep the family of Shirley Burch in your thoughts and prayers.
To Darren,Willie,Sister,Brothers, and Mr.Burch. Great memories with you all and Mrs. Burch at the Florence Baptist Temple!!I am sorry about the loss of your Mother and wife!! I know she is with the Lord Jesus!! My prayers are with your family! I miss you and our friendship!! Maybe we will see each other again in the future!! I Love You Darren and your family!!From: Joel Huggins
I am deeply honored and blessed to have known Mrs. Burch. She was a blessing in my life, and I will forever carry her in my heart. Accept my sincere condolences. I am praying for the family.
Sincerely, Danielle Timmons
I first met Shirley about thirty years ago when she was in my SS class at Florence Baptist Temple. She became such a dear, sweet friend and I will miss her terribly. I could easily call her Miss Vogue because she always dressed so beautifully! Even after her strokes as soon as possible, she was wearing high heels again. These last three years she has suffered so much with the dialysis and other problems. She was a fighter though and kept coming back to us. Attending your 50th Anniversary Party last year, Willie, was such a treat and I'll remember it always. Please know how very sorry we are. I loved her. We'll keep you and the family in our prayers. Sincerely, Gloria Reynolds
Memories of Shirley are always precious! I remember when we taught Sunday School together many years ago, she loved those 3 year olds! I always will think of her with her sweet smiles. One other memory was she would always ask us when would our children have children. She loved those grandkids! When I finally got to tell her we were going to be grandparents - she was thrilled! She will be sorely missed. She was such a wonderful example of what a Christian was! Our prayers are with all the family and especially Willie. We would be at the funeral but since we can't please know Willie that our thoughts are with you! Love in Christ, Rodney & Margot Freeze
Shirley, thank you for your friendship all these years and for introducing me to FBT. We've had some great heart to heart chats. I will surely miss you, but I know you are with the Lord now. Your were always so supportive of me. Remember, I love you girl. Dr. Vicki Dixon
May God comfort you during this time of sorrow. Love you Adrienne Bostick.
My Condolences to the Burch Family. May God comfort you during this time of sorrow.
To a beautiful soul Aunt Shirley you will be greatly be missed. I hold my childhood memories coming down south for Summers and staying with you and stay with Thellanda playing in the yard jumping on the trampoline getting up on Sundays to go to church are some of my best memories. We love you and we will miss you!! From your loving niece Tyesha and Family
Charlene and the family we is sorry for your loss we keep you and our prayers .God bless you and your family. Love the Bostick family,
When I would come down from Ct. Every Summer Auntie I would leave until I would stay with you and Uncle Frank. You would take me to Church. I Thank God for the light and Salt that God you to be in My Lift. And Thank to Leading Me to the Cross. I'm know an Woman of God. Missed but Never Never forgotten. And Thank you for Teaching me to bake those delicious cakes.
I send my deepest condolences to the family of Ms. Shirley. She was a long time shopper at Hobby Lobby and one of my favorites. I always hugged her when she came through the door. That smile of hers would make my day. I sure did love her and I told her that I did quite often. She will surely be missed. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers and may the LORD give you strength and guide you in this time of need. Pat from Hobby Lobby in Florence SC
To the Burch family my cousin a beautiful person inside and out we love you and will miss you God bless:your family in WINSTON-SALEM AUNT MARY,ARCHIE,VERNA LEE,ROGER
PS Excuse typo in post when it says look bed it is to say say love to stay.
My aunt Shirley Mae was the most humbling sweet soft spoken woman who inspires me with her strength, courage and most of all her faith in God. I am going to miss her so so much for whenever my dad and I came down there for family reunions or visits since I was a little girl I always look bed staying at my aunt Shirley Mae and uncle Frank home. Going out to the stores cooking those cakes and food waking us up to go to church and she taught us how to pick the sweet berries and cucumbers great times being with my cousins jumping on the trampoline that my children had got to enjoy. Words cannot truly express the heart break but the memories I have are truly cherished and will eventually mend it with smiles as I think of all the great moments with my auntie the one who my family and I believe I look like. Uncle Frank thank you for being a good husband to my auntie and a great dad and the best uncle to all of us, To my Cousins be strong as your mom and stand in faith as she did and she taught you guys. My stylish auntie who left me the last memory at her Anniversary and church dedication to run to the car in which Ingot lost the church so huge went out the wrong door lol. to get her jewelry cause her outfit wasn't complete without her jewelry. Lol she always her style always fashionable Fashionista she was.
Junior, My family and I are so sorry for your loss. I wish there was something I could do or say to help you through this time. Our prayers are with you and your family. Love you my friend...Jeff George and family
Junior and Family, the words do not come easy to express how sorry I am for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I wish I could be there with you for support, but I am with you in spirit. Let me know if there is anything you or your family needs, I am here. Love, Cindy
Our staff will continue to keep your family in our prayers. We thank you for allowing us to serve your family.
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