Velma Ruth Burch, 83, of Young Harris, GA, formerly of Murphy, died Monday, December 7, 2009 in a Murphy care center.  She was a native of Nowata, OK but was raised in Phillips, TX before moving to Cherokee County in 1953.  She attended the University of Oklahoma and received a degree in education, music, and journalism from Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, TX.  Velma was the first paid director of music for the Murphy First Baptist Church.  She retired after 31 years from Murphy High School as an English and Journalism teacher.  Velma was known for her singing ability, having sung for her church and many social events, weddings, and funerals. Velma was a member of the Murphy First Baptist Church for 55 years, where she had served as choir director for many of those years.  Presently, she was a member of the Peachtree Memorial Baptist Church. 

She was the daughter of the late Luther C. and Nellie Martin Umphfres. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Paul and Donald Umphfres.

Surviving are her husband of 57 ½ years, Doyle C. “Buddy” Burch; a sister, Marcella Parrott of Sun City, AZ; four nephews, Ross Parrott of Glendale, AZ, Paul Parrott of Tulsa, OK, Bob Dickey of Waynesville, NC, and Steve Dickey of Murphy; and two nieces, Paulette Brocato of Lubbock, TX and Cindy Dickey of Murphy.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 AM Friday, Dec. 11 in the Peachtree Memorial Baptist Church with Dr. Chester Jones and Rev. Ross Parrott officiating. Interment was in the Sunset Cemetery.  Pallbearers were Dr. Russell Hughes, James and Blake Hughes, Charles West, Garry McClure, and John Hill.  Honorary pallbearers were David Cowan, David and Dan Hughes, Jim and Bob Hendrix, Sam Davis, Ed Nitzsche, Ernie Freda, John Stevenson, Bud Penland, George Worley, and Larry Turner.

The family received friends from 4-7 Thursday evening at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy where the body was until placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the services.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Velma Ruth Burch to The Gideons International, PO Box 164, Murphy, NC 28906.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.