Mary Tallulah [b. 10-25-1872 d. 6-7-1979], oldest child of Michael L. and Eliza Augusta Dasher Burch, was Mary Lou to her sisters and Auntie to her nieces and nephews.
When Mary Lou was about four the “Times Journal”, Eastman, Georgia’s newspaper, was put up for sale. Her father felt this was just the opportunity he needed. So in 1876 he, Augusta and their small children Mary Lou, Sissie and baby Annie packed all belongings, said their fair wells and left to began life anew.
Eastman was the county seat of newly formed Dodge County, which is located in the middle of the southern half of Georgia. When the Burches arrived Dodge Co. had only been in existence for six years. The town itself was very small. The main street consisted mostly of pine trees, a railroad depot, a store and some bar rooms. Mr. Bill Morgan, remembered by the Burch children as a jolly, child-loving man who wore a huge diamond tiepin, ran the largest bar.
When Augusta needed supplies she would send her children to Mr. Coleman’s general store which carried all manner of supplies including groceries, dry goods, hardware – “everything you could think of!” declared Mary Lou. However, the way there was just past the bar rooms. Augusta would always say, “Now go by Mr. Coleman’s and when you get to the barrooms run like a Turkey!” That meant top speed. So the girls would do just that. After a store clerk waited on them they’d come flying back home as hard as they could go.
The Burches spent their first night in Eastman in a boarding house. Mary Lou, then four, was so impressed with this that a century later she still remembered it. From there they moved into a little two room house where they stayed while Mike had their permanent home built. This home was located about 1 ½ miles from the courthouse and next to the railroad track. They lived there a few years until a fire consumed the house. Mike rebuilt across the road still in sight of the railroad.
Life for the Burches settled into a peaceful pattern. Every Sunday when services were held, all the little Burches scrubbed and dressed in their best were taken by their parents to Eastman Baptist Church. Here they were instructed in the Christian way with varying degrees of success.
They also all attended Eastman Academy. Nineteen-year-old Mary Lou was in the very first graduating class, one of seven graduates. As a centenarian she still recalled going to the courthouse to get her certificate. She also recalled a particular April Fool’s day prank.
April first that year dawned clear and beautiful, much to pleasant to spend indoors. Giggling together before school that day a plan was hatched. There was a deep ditch below their schoolhouse. Quickly all of the students stripped off their shoes and stockings and hopped into the ditch. They walked a mile to a thick pine forest known as “Bishop’s Grove” and had a picnic all day long. Mary Lou said, “We’d runaway from school. It was an awful thing to do but we did it.” And then she burst into a merry and unrepentant peal of laughter.
Mary Lou’s father Mike could be a very strict man. “What papa said went!” He used to tell her that since she was the oldest she had to be an example for all of the other children and that he expected only perfection for her. Mary Lou maintained that this caused her to get many a whippin’ she didn’t deserve. Despite this hard line Mike dearly loved all of his children and was very proud of them and concerned for their happiness.
He used to try and take several children with him whenever he traveled. Often the two oldest girls Mary Lou and Sissie were the lucky ones. In those days travel was by horse and buggy. It took all day to travel from Eastman to Dublin a distance of approximately 25 miles.
Adding to the excitement of the trip was the fact that many of the creeks were not bridged at that time and the Burch girls didn't swim. Mike would always have them stand on the buggy seat as he drove the horses through the water. In their fear they held on to their father’s neck so tightly they nearly strangled him. Turkey Creek was the worst. And Mary Lou would shiver in later years just to think of it. Nonetheless no one ever drowned and the time spent with their father was worth braving water.
May Lou started teaching the September after she graduated from high school at the age of twenty. She first taught for four years in the school she had attended for a salary of $40 per month. When a better offer came from Tifton, GA she accepted and stayed there for five years. At that time she decided never to stay more than five years in any one school. From Tifton she went to Chipley, now Pine Mountain and then to Brewton-Parker. Brewton Parker was so new when she arrived in 1904 the doors and windows weren't yet hung.
Mary Lou subsequently returned to Eastman where she spent the rest of her life and accepted the job of Post Mistress. She held that job from April 13, 1921 until October 31, 1942 when she retired at seventy. She was retired for over 36 years before her death.
AT the age of 101 she told her nephew Walker Evans, "Walker I'm an old lady I ain't got much longer in this old world." To which Walker replied, "Well you read the papers. You hardly ever hear about anybody 101 dying!" Mary Lou laughed and said, "Well, as I say, I'm in the Lord's hands and when he gets ready for me he'll call me." She was called June 7, 1979 at the age of 106 ½. Not until 103 did she begin to fail. Then her niece Lol [Fannie Laura] Harrell gave her the loving care she needed till the end. A remarkable woman!
Upon her death the following article ran in the local paper: Rites Held for Miss Burch our Oldest Citizen
The funeral service for Miss Mary Lou Burch, 106, of Eastman was held Saturday in the chapel of Horn Funeral Home. Bural was in Woodlawn Cemetery. Reverend W.M. O'Connor officiated.
Pallbearers were Rex Parkerson, Eugene Milner, Ed McCranie, Freeman Graham, Roddy Burnhum and Buford Revel. Sacred organ selection were presented by Mrs. J.C.Lowery. Miss Burch died Thursday Jan 7th, in the Heart of Georgia Nursing Home.
A lifelong resident of Eastman, Miss Burch was the oldest member of the First Baptist Church. She taught school in the local area for 41 years and was Post Master in Eastman for 20 years. Survivors include one sister Augusta Burch Selman of Atlanta, one sister-in-law Mrs. Mike Burch of Eastman, several nieces and nephews, including Miss Fannie Laura Harrell and Albert M. Harrell, of Eastman and several great and great-great nieces and nephews.
When Mary Lou was about four the “Times Journal”, Eastman, Georgia’s newspaper, was put up for sale. Her father felt this was just the opportunity he needed. So in 1876 he, Augusta and their small children Mary Lou, Sissie and baby Annie packed all belongings, said their fair wells and left to began life anew.
Eastman was the county seat of newly formed Dodge County, which is located in the middle of the southern half of Georgia. When the Burches arrived Dodge Co. had only been in existence for six years. The town itself was very small. The main street consisted mostly of pine trees, a railroad depot, a store and some bar rooms. Mr. Bill Morgan, remembered by the Burch children as a jolly, child-loving man who wore a huge diamond tiepin, ran the largest bar.
When Augusta needed supplies she would send her children to Mr. Coleman’s general store which carried all manner of supplies including groceries, dry goods, hardware – “everything you could think of!” declared Mary Lou. However, the way there was just past the bar rooms. Augusta would always say, “Now go by Mr. Coleman’s and when you get to the barrooms run like a Turkey!” That meant top speed. So the girls would do just that. After a store clerk waited on them they’d come flying back home as hard as they could go.
The Burches spent their first night in Eastman in a boarding house. Mary Lou, then four, was so impressed with this that a century later she still remembered it. From there they moved into a little two room house where they stayed while Mike had their permanent home built. This home was located about 1 ½ miles from the courthouse and next to the railroad track. They lived there a few years until a fire consumed the house. Mike rebuilt across the road still in sight of the railroad.
Life for the Burches settled into a peaceful pattern. Every Sunday when services were held, all the little Burches scrubbed and dressed in their best were taken by their parents to Eastman Baptist Church. Here they were instructed in the Christian way with varying degrees of success.
They also all attended Eastman Academy. Nineteen-year-old Mary Lou was in the very first graduating class, one of seven graduates. As a centenarian she still recalled going to the courthouse to get her certificate. She also recalled a particular April Fool’s day prank.
April first that year dawned clear and beautiful, much to pleasant to spend indoors. Giggling together before school that day a plan was hatched. There was a deep ditch below their schoolhouse. Quickly all of the students stripped off their shoes and stockings and hopped into the ditch. They walked a mile to a thick pine forest known as “Bishop’s Grove” and had a picnic all day long. Mary Lou said, “We’d runaway from school. It was an awful thing to do but we did it.” And then she burst into a merry and unrepentant peal of laughter.
Mary Lou’s father Mike could be a very strict man. “What papa said went!” He used to tell her that since she was the oldest she had to be an example for all of the other children and that he expected only perfection for her. Mary Lou maintained that this caused her to get many a whippin’ she didn’t deserve. Despite this hard line Mike dearly loved all of his children and was very proud of them and concerned for their happiness.
He used to try and take several children with him whenever he traveled. Often the two oldest girls Mary Lou and Sissie were the lucky ones. In those days travel was by horse and buggy. It took all day to travel from Eastman to Dublin a distance of approximately 25 miles.
Adding to the excitement of the trip was the fact that many of the creeks were not bridged at that time and the Burch girls didn't swim. Mike would always have them stand on the buggy seat as he drove the horses through the water. In their fear they held on to their father’s neck so tightly they nearly strangled him. Turkey Creek was the worst. And Mary Lou would shiver in later years just to think of it. Nonetheless no one ever drowned and the time spent with their father was worth braving water.
May Lou started teaching the September after she graduated from high school at the age of twenty. She first taught for four years in the school she had attended for a salary of $40 per month. When a better offer came from Tifton, GA she accepted and stayed there for five years. At that time she decided never to stay more than five years in any one school. From Tifton she went to Chipley, now Pine Mountain and then to Brewton-Parker. Brewton Parker was so new when she arrived in 1904 the doors and windows weren't yet hung.
Mary Lou subsequently returned to Eastman where she spent the rest of her life and accepted the job of Post Mistress. She held that job from April 13, 1921 until October 31, 1942 when she retired at seventy. She was retired for over 36 years before her death.
AT the age of 101 she told her nephew Walker Evans, "Walker I'm an old lady I ain't got much longer in this old world." To which Walker replied, "Well you read the papers. You hardly ever hear about anybody 101 dying!" Mary Lou laughed and said, "Well, as I say, I'm in the Lord's hands and when he gets ready for me he'll call me." She was called June 7, 1979 at the age of 106 ½. Not until 103 did she begin to fail. Then her niece Lol [Fannie Laura] Harrell gave her the loving care she needed till the end. A remarkable woman!
Upon her death the following article ran in the local paper: Rites Held for Miss Burch our Oldest Citizen
The funeral service for Miss Mary Lou Burch, 106, of Eastman was held Saturday in the chapel of Horn Funeral Home. Bural was in Woodlawn Cemetery. Reverend W.M. O'Connor officiated.
Pallbearers were Rex Parkerson, Eugene Milner, Ed McCranie, Freeman Graham, Roddy Burnhum and Buford Revel. Sacred organ selection were presented by Mrs. J.C.Lowery. Miss Burch died Thursday Jan 7th, in the Heart of Georgia Nursing Home.
A lifelong resident of Eastman, Miss Burch was the oldest member of the First Baptist Church. She taught school in the local area for 41 years and was Post Master in Eastman for 20 years. Survivors include one sister Augusta Burch Selman of Atlanta, one sister-in-law Mrs. Mike Burch of Eastman, several nieces and nephews, including Miss Fannie Laura Harrell and Albert M. Harrell, of Eastman and several great and great-great nieces and nephews.
Mary Tallulah [b. 10-25-1872 d. 6-7-1979], oldest child of Michael L. and Eliza Augusta Dasher Burch, was Mary Lou to her sisters and Auntie to her nieces and nephews.
When Mary Lou was about four the “Times Journal”, Eastman, Georgia’s newspaper, was put up for sale. Her father felt this was just the opportunity he needed. So in 1876 he, Augusta and their small children Mary Lou, Sissie and baby Annie packed all belongings, said their fair wells and left to began life anew.
Eastman was the county seat of newly formed Dodge County, which is located in the middle of the southern half of Georgia. When the Burches arrived Dodge Co. had only been in existence for six years. The town itself was very small. The main street consisted mostly of pine trees, a railroad depot, a store and some bar rooms. Mr. Bill Morgan, remembered by the Burch children as a jolly, child-loving man who wore a huge diamond tiepin, ran the largest bar.
When Augusta needed supplies she would send her children to Mr. Coleman’s general store which carried all manner of supplies including groceries, dry goods, hardware – “everything you could think of!” declared Mary Lou. However, the way there was just past the bar rooms. Augusta would always say, “Now go by Mr. Coleman’s and when you get to the barrooms run like a Turkey!” That meant top speed. So the girls would do just that. After a store clerk waited on them they’d come flying back home as hard as they could go.
The Burches spent their first night in Eastman in a boarding house. Mary Lou, then four, was so impressed with this that a century later she still remembered it. From there they moved into a little two room house where they stayed while Mike had their permanent home built. This home was located about 1 ½ miles from the courthouse and next to the railroad track. They lived there a few years until a fire consumed the house. Mike rebuilt across the road still in sight of the railroad.
Life for the Burches settled into a peaceful pattern. Every Sunday when services were held, all the little Burches scrubbed and dressed in their best were taken by their parents to Eastman Baptist Church. Here they were instructed in the Christian way with varying degrees of success.
They also all attended Eastman Academy. Nineteen-year-old Mary Lou was in the very first graduating class, one of seven graduates. As a centenarian she still recalled going to the courthouse to get her certificate. She also recalled a particular April Fool’s day prank.
April first that year dawned clear and beautiful, much to pleasant to spend indoors. Giggling together before school that day a plan was hatched. There was a deep ditch below their schoolhouse. Quickly all of the students stripped off their shoes and stockings and hopped into the ditch. They walked a mile to a thick pine forest known as “Bishop’s Grove” and had a picnic all day long. Mary Lou said, “We’d runaway from school. It was an awful thing to do but we did it.” And then she burst into a merry and unrepentant peal of laughter.
Mary Lou’s father Mike could be a very strict man. “What papa said went!” He used to tell her that since she was the oldest she had to be an example for all of the other children and that he expected only perfection for her. Mary Lou maintained that this caused her to get many a whippin’ she didn’t deserve. Despite this hard line Mike dearly loved all of his children and was very proud of them and concerned for their happiness.
He used to try and take several children with him whenever he traveled. Often the two oldest girls Mary Lou and Sissie were the lucky ones. In those days travel was by horse and buggy. It took all day to travel from Eastman to Dublin a distance of approximately 25 miles.
Adding to the excitement of the trip was the fact that many of the creeks were not bridged at that time and the Burch girls didn't swim. Mike would always have them stand on the buggy seat as he drove the horses through the water. In their fear they held on to their father’s neck so tightly they nearly strangled him. Turkey Creek was the worst. And Mary Lou would shiver in later years just to think of it. Nonetheless no one ever drowned and the time spent with their father was worth braving water.
May Lou started teaching the September after she graduated from high school at the age of twenty. She first taught for four years in the school she had attended for a salary of $40 per month. When a better offer came from Tifton, GA she accepted and stayed there for five years. At that time she decided never to stay more than five years in any one school. From Tifton she went to Chipley, now Pine Mountain and then to Brewton-Parker. Brewton Parker was so new when she arrived in 1904 the doors and windows weren't yet hung.
Mary Lou subsequently returned to Eastman where she spent the rest of her life and accepted the job of Post Mistress. She held that job from April 13, 1921 until October 31, 1942 when she retired at seventy. She was retired for over 36 years before her death.
AT the age of 101 she told her nephew Walker Evans, "Walker I'm an old lady I ain't got much longer in this old world." To which Walker replied, "Well you read the papers. You hardly ever hear about anybody 101 dying!" Mary Lou laughed and said, "Well, as I say, I'm in the Lord's hands and when he gets ready for me he'll call me." She was called June 7, 1979 at the age of 106 ½. Not until 103 did she begin to fail. Then her niece Lol [Fannie Laura] Harrell gave her the loving care she needed till the end. A remarkable woman!
Upon her death the following article ran in the local paper: Rites Held for Miss Burch our Oldest Citizen
The funeral service for Miss Mary Lou Burch, 106, of Eastman was held Saturday in the chapel of Horn Funeral Home. Bural was in Woodlawn Cemetery. Reverend W.M. O'Connor officiated.
Pallbearers were Rex Parkerson, Eugene Milner, Ed McCranie, Freeman Graham, Roddy Burnhum and Buford Revel. Sacred organ selection were presented by Mrs. J.C.Lowery. Miss Burch died Thursday Jan 7th, in the Heart of Georgia Nursing Home.
A lifelong resident of Eastman, Miss Burch was the oldest member of the First Baptist Church. She taught school in the local area for 41 years and was Post Master in Eastman for 20 years. Survivors include one sister Augusta Burch Selman of Atlanta, one sister-in-law Mrs. Mike Burch of Eastman, several nieces and nephews, including Miss Fannie Laura Harrell and Albert M. Harrell, of Eastman and several great and great-great nieces and nephews.
When Mary Lou was about four the “Times Journal”, Eastman, Georgia’s newspaper, was put up for sale. Her father felt this was just the opportunity he needed. So in 1876 he, Augusta and their small children Mary Lou, Sissie and baby Annie packed all belongings, said their fair wells and left to began life anew.
Eastman was the county seat of newly formed Dodge County, which is located in the middle of the southern half of Georgia. When the Burches arrived Dodge Co. had only been in existence for six years. The town itself was very small. The main street consisted mostly of pine trees, a railroad depot, a store and some bar rooms. Mr. Bill Morgan, remembered by the Burch children as a jolly, child-loving man who wore a huge diamond tiepin, ran the largest bar.
When Augusta needed supplies she would send her children to Mr. Coleman’s general store which carried all manner of supplies including groceries, dry goods, hardware – “everything you could think of!” declared Mary Lou. However, the way there was just past the bar rooms. Augusta would always say, “Now go by Mr. Coleman’s and when you get to the barrooms run like a Turkey!” That meant top speed. So the girls would do just that. After a store clerk waited on them they’d come flying back home as hard as they could go.
The Burches spent their first night in Eastman in a boarding house. Mary Lou, then four, was so impressed with this that a century later she still remembered it. From there they moved into a little two room house where they stayed while Mike had their permanent home built. This home was located about 1 ½ miles from the courthouse and next to the railroad track. They lived there a few years until a fire consumed the house. Mike rebuilt across the road still in sight of the railroad.
Life for the Burches settled into a peaceful pattern. Every Sunday when services were held, all the little Burches scrubbed and dressed in their best were taken by their parents to Eastman Baptist Church. Here they were instructed in the Christian way with varying degrees of success.
They also all attended Eastman Academy. Nineteen-year-old Mary Lou was in the very first graduating class, one of seven graduates. As a centenarian she still recalled going to the courthouse to get her certificate. She also recalled a particular April Fool’s day prank.
April first that year dawned clear and beautiful, much to pleasant to spend indoors. Giggling together before school that day a plan was hatched. There was a deep ditch below their schoolhouse. Quickly all of the students stripped off their shoes and stockings and hopped into the ditch. They walked a mile to a thick pine forest known as “Bishop’s Grove” and had a picnic all day long. Mary Lou said, “We’d runaway from school. It was an awful thing to do but we did it.” And then she burst into a merry and unrepentant peal of laughter.
Mary Lou’s father Mike could be a very strict man. “What papa said went!” He used to tell her that since she was the oldest she had to be an example for all of the other children and that he expected only perfection for her. Mary Lou maintained that this caused her to get many a whippin’ she didn’t deserve. Despite this hard line Mike dearly loved all of his children and was very proud of them and concerned for their happiness.
He used to try and take several children with him whenever he traveled. Often the two oldest girls Mary Lou and Sissie were the lucky ones. In those days travel was by horse and buggy. It took all day to travel from Eastman to Dublin a distance of approximately 25 miles.
Adding to the excitement of the trip was the fact that many of the creeks were not bridged at that time and the Burch girls didn't swim. Mike would always have them stand on the buggy seat as he drove the horses through the water. In their fear they held on to their father’s neck so tightly they nearly strangled him. Turkey Creek was the worst. And Mary Lou would shiver in later years just to think of it. Nonetheless no one ever drowned and the time spent with their father was worth braving water.
May Lou started teaching the September after she graduated from high school at the age of twenty. She first taught for four years in the school she had attended for a salary of $40 per month. When a better offer came from Tifton, GA she accepted and stayed there for five years. At that time she decided never to stay more than five years in any one school. From Tifton she went to Chipley, now Pine Mountain and then to Brewton-Parker. Brewton Parker was so new when she arrived in 1904 the doors and windows weren't yet hung.
Mary Lou subsequently returned to Eastman where she spent the rest of her life and accepted the job of Post Mistress. She held that job from April 13, 1921 until October 31, 1942 when she retired at seventy. She was retired for over 36 years before her death.
AT the age of 101 she told her nephew Walker Evans, "Walker I'm an old lady I ain't got much longer in this old world." To which Walker replied, "Well you read the papers. You hardly ever hear about anybody 101 dying!" Mary Lou laughed and said, "Well, as I say, I'm in the Lord's hands and when he gets ready for me he'll call me." She was called June 7, 1979 at the age of 106 ½. Not until 103 did she begin to fail. Then her niece Lol [Fannie Laura] Harrell gave her the loving care she needed till the end. A remarkable woman!
Upon her death the following article ran in the local paper: Rites Held for Miss Burch our Oldest Citizen
The funeral service for Miss Mary Lou Burch, 106, of Eastman was held Saturday in the chapel of Horn Funeral Home. Bural was in Woodlawn Cemetery. Reverend W.M. O'Connor officiated.
Pallbearers were Rex Parkerson, Eugene Milner, Ed McCranie, Freeman Graham, Roddy Burnhum and Buford Revel. Sacred organ selection were presented by Mrs. J.C.Lowery. Miss Burch died Thursday Jan 7th, in the Heart of Georgia Nursing Home.
A lifelong resident of Eastman, Miss Burch was the oldest member of the First Baptist Church. She taught school in the local area for 41 years and was Post Master in Eastman for 20 years. Survivors include one sister Augusta Burch Selman of Atlanta, one sister-in-law Mrs. Mike Burch of Eastman, several nieces and nephews, including Miss Fannie Laura Harrell and Albert M. Harrell, of Eastman and several great and great-great nieces and nephews.
