Elizabeth Morris Burch

ELIZABETH MORRIS BURCH
Bamberg – Elizabeth Morris “Lib” Burch, 97, passed away at her home in Bamberg on Easter Sunday,
April 16, 2017. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church,
11761 Heritage Highway, Bamberg, S.C. 29003 with Reverend David Caughman presiding at 2:00 pm
Thursday, April 20, 2017. Visitation will be at the home on Wednesday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. A
private family graveside service will be held at Southend Cemetery.
Lib Burch’s professional life was in banking. A pioneering woman bank executive, The State newspaper
featured her in an article upon her retirement as City Executive for then South Carolina National Bank
(SCN) after 32 years. She was the first woman city executive for SCN and one of the first, if not the first,
woman officer of SCN. She rose to become state chair of the South Carolina National Association of Bank
Women. She was known by her many customers for putting a personal touch in banking. She loved
meeting and helping people and found that banking gave her an opportunity to do that.
Lib was a faithful servant to her Lord and Savior as all who knew her would attest. She reached out to
her many friends and family with phone calls and cards on special occasions. She served in numerous
offices of Trinity United Methodist Church, including teaching Sunday School, Chair of Council on
Ministries, Chair of Education Commission, and member of the Mozell Circle. She enjoyed bridge clubs
and golf and was a member of the Camellia Garden Club.
She served on numerous community boards and agencies including as a leader or board member of The
United Way, the Bamberg County Hospital, the Bamberg Jobs Corps, County Chair of the Crippled
Children Society of South Carolina and chair of The Salvation Army. She was an active member of the
Chamber of Commerce.
Although her career was in community banking, her heart was with her family and her church. She was
happily married to James Thomas “Jimmie” Burch from November, 1942 until his death in 2012, a period
of almost 70 years. She was born in Olar on December 7, 1919, to David Pierson and Addie Croft Morris.
She was predeceased by her sisters Gertrude Dangerfield, Mildred Bowman and Louise Best and is
survived by her brother David Pierson “Buck” Morris of Charleston and Ruffin.
Lib is also survived by her daughter Elizabeth Burch “Jimmilib” Harrison (Jimmy), grandson James C.
Harrison, III (Meg), all of Columbia, her granddaughters Elizabeth Lawrence Harrison, Brevard, N.C., and
Elena Ladygina (Greg Reynholds), Fair Haven, N.J. and her great grandchildren Margaret Elizabeth
“Maggie” Harrison and James Burch Harrison of Columbia and Knox Aleksandre Reynholds and Walker
Ford Reynholds of Fair Haven, N.J. She was predeceased by her nephew Robert Lowery “Bobby” Best.
She leaves loving nieces and nephews and their spouses Margaret Best Woods (John) of Nokomis,
Florida, Asa Allen Way (Barbara) of Denmark, S.C., Bucky Morris (Colleen), David Morris (Ann), Pam
Hanckel (Miles), all of Charleston, S.C. and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews.
The family sincerely appreciates and gratefully acknowledges the loving care of Carolyn Baker, Olivia
Cherrix, Vivian Williams, Dr. Dale Padgett and his staff, as well as the staff of Hospice Care of South
Carolina.
Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 335, Bamberg, S.C. 29003 or the
charity of one’s choice. Cooner Funeral Home,LLC of Bamberg is assisting the family.

www.coonerfuneralhome.com

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