Joyce Newell Burch, 84, of Mechanicsville, MD died September 8, 2012 at her residence. Born February 5, 1928 in New York, she was the daughter of Clarence Newell and Frances Marshall Newell.

Joyce was an elementary school teacher and taught at Hollywood Elementary School for 25 years. She loved to read, feed the birds, take care of her plants, and paint her husband's hand-made duck decoys. Her main passion in life was her family.

Predeceased by her parents and husband, Philip Briscoe Burch, she is survived by her sons, Philip Glenn Burch and Vernon Lee Burch; four sisters, Joan Long and Nancy Quade of Mechanicsville, MD and Gail Martin and Nora Newell, both from New York; 3 grandchildren, Evelyn Barth, Jeffrey Burch and Phillip Burch and 3 great grandchildren, Noah Barth, Christian Barth and Kenneth Bradley Long.

The family will receive friends for Joyce's Life Celebration on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 from 5:00-8:00p.m. at Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home, P.A., 30195 Three Notch Rd., Charlotte Hall, MD. Her funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 13, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 21708 Mt. Zion Church Rd., Mechanicsville, MD 20659. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Mt. Zion United Methodist Church.

Arrangements provided by Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home, P.A.