Franklin D. Burch, 77, died September 27, 2019, at his coastal home under the care of Hospice of the Golden Isles, after a short illness and a full life.  He was a lifelong resident of Wayne County and graduated from Screven High School in 1961. He was a lifetime member of Ritch Missionary Baptist Church.  Following a brief time with Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Service and Kaiser, he decided to pursue his passion for agriculture full-time and began F&M Burch Farms, which later became F-M-R Burch Farms.  He farmed for more than 50 years and succeeded in becoming one of the largest agricultural operations in Wayne County.  His name is synonymous with excellence in agriculture locally and throughout the state.  He loved to work with young people, sharing the value and importance of hard work.  He was a mentor in agriculture, and in life, to people of all walks of life.  He was one of eight farmers who built the first farmer-owned cotton gin in the area in 1995.  He also helped expand Southeastern Gin into Southeastern Gin and Peanut Company in 2004.  He was a charter member, past president and current advisor of the Wayne County Young Farmers; a director of the Wayne County Farm Bureau; a participant in the Phillip Morris Agriculture Leadership Program; a past member of the University of Georgia's College of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Services State Advisory Committee; a past Farm Service Agency committee member; a past member of the Wayne County Livestock Association and a founding member and past president of the Southern Pullers Association. He was predeceased in death by a son, Franklin Ron Burch; his parents, Willie and Mabel Burch; and a sister, Ann Boatright.

He is survived by his faithful wife of 57 years, Mary Ann Bennett Burch; daughters and sons-in-law, Angie and Clay Brewton and Joy and Steven Meeks; grandchildren: Tyler (Kaylie) Brewton, Jaicee Brewton, Logan Burch, Haley Burch and John William Meeks; a brother, Billy Mack Burch and wife, Willie;several extended family members including nieces and nephews along with a special sister-in-law, Gloria Ellis.

Funeral service will be held at 3 PM Tuesday, October 1, 2019, at Screven First Baptist Church with Reverend Shon Cunningham, family and friends officiating.  Interment will be in the Bennett Cemetery on Odum Screven Road, Screven, Ga. 31560. Active pallbearers will be Larry Barnes, Jeff Bennett, Michael Burch, Mike Burch, Derek Ellis, Stephen Ellis, Deven Mixon and Danny Wingate. Honorary pallbearers will be the employees of FMR Burch Farms, members and officers of the Southeastern Gin and Peanut Board of Directors, members of the Southern Pullers Association, members of the Class of 1961, Forrest Aspinwall, John and April Beasley, Wes Bennett, Emory and Debbie Clary, Mike and Michelle Hargrove, David Thornton, Kenneth Tyre, and Dr. Lance Hendrix.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 PM Monday, September 30, 2019 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Wayne County Future Farmers of America Scholarship Fund, 1 Jacket Drive, Jesup, Ga. 31545, Hospice of South Georgia, 1625 Sunset Blvd., Jesup, Ga. 31545 or Winship Emory Cancer Center, 1762 Clifton Road, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30322.

Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home of Jesup is in charge of arrangements.