Donna Eglin Burch

Donna Eglin Burch, a "Life Long" resident of Ocean Springs and Biloxi, MS died at her daughter's home in Mobile, AL on August 6, 2006 after a lingering illness. She now rests peacefully in the Arms of her Savior. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home of Ocean Springs. The visitation will be held at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Ocean Springs between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 9, 2006. After the visitation there will be a Funeral Mass immediately followed by burial in the family plot at Crestlawn Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers include: Don Burch, Micah Hill, Blake Senseney, Malcom Hodges, Michael Ederer and Nicholas Ederer. Donna's Faith and the Catholic Church were an important part of her life. She made her First Holy Communion and Confirmation at Nativity B.V.M. Cathedral while attending Sacred Heart Academy in Grammar School. Moving back to Ocean Springs, she was a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and graduated from Ocean Springs High School. She was a member of the Cheerleading Squad for the Ocean Springs Greyhounds and was also Captain of the Girls' Basketball team. After high school, she attended Gulf Park College and Finishing School at Long Beach, followed by two years of Nurses' training at New Orleans Charity Hospital, earning her "Blue Cape" in Nursing. Donna studied and played piano most of her life. Her favorite tunes to play were "Rhapsody in Blue" and "Claire de Lune." Because she comes from one of Ocean Springs oldest families, Donna was chosen to carry the Magnolia Flag (State Flower) in the "250th Bicentennial Parade" in Biloxi. She enjoyed keeping the "Family Tree", especially the three recent articles in the Ocean Springs News on the history of the Eglin family. Donna was also asked to compete in the "Miss Hospitality" contest. After winning, "Miss Ocean Springs Hospitality", she then went on to Jackson to compete in the statewide contest. In the business world, Donna was known as a Master Tailor (one of the "Lost Arts") and eventually owned and operated "Rent-a-Gown" on Washington Avenue in Ocean Springs. This offered her the opportunity to help so many young girls who could not afford a prom dress, or a Bride who could not afford a wedding gown or bridesmaids' dresses. She supplied and altered dresses for all who were in need, spending many late hours to meet a deadline. She did what she loved best -- "giving to others" in need. Donna was the youngest of three daughters of Don and Alma Eglin and granddaughter of Charles and Susan Eglin of Ocean Springs. She married Paul Ellzey Burch of Biloxi at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church where they remained active members. Mr. Burch was Executive Vice President of the Merchants & Marine Bank in Pascagoula, MS and President of the Hickory Hills Golf & Country Club in Gautier, MS (now Mississippi National Golf Club), where they enjoyed golf, bridge and social activities. She is survived by a sister, Peggy Eglin Vaughn-Winfree of Biloxi; three children, Donell Burch Ederer and Paul Ellzey Burch, Jr. of Mobile, AL and Don Eglin Burch and his wife, Leslie Ordone Burch of Houston, TX; five grandchildren, Michael Peter Ederer, Jr., Mindy Ederer Brooks, Ashlee Michelle Ederer and Nicholas Burch Ederer all of Mobile, AL and Micah Ordone Hill of Houston, TX; one great-grandson, Robert Tanner Brooks of Mobile, AL and her longtime dear friend Rhonda F. Duncan of Biloxi, MS. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Ellzey Burch and her sister, Bettie Eglin Fallo.