John Gainey Burch, Jr. “JB” passed away early Friday April 10, 2026, at his home in Greenwood, SC. 

The middle child of “Jack” and “Jean” Burch, John grew up across the upstate of South Carolina graduating from Union High School in 1977. In Union, he met Susan Sumner who would go onto be his partner and wife for over 50 years. After high school, John attended Newberry College to play golf and later graduated from Clemson University in 1983.

Susan and John married on June 1,1985 and settled in Greenwood. A little over 5 years later, their daughter Sumner was born and spent the next 35 years keeping JB on his toes. A proud Clemson Alumnus, John continued to support his beloved Tigers with a lifelong membership to IPTAY. His favorite time of year was tailgating at home football games with family and friends and of course, watching the Tigers anytime they came on TV. 

John devoted 35 years to Louis P. Batson Company as an area sales manager selling textile equipment and supplies across the Southeast. He loved playing golf at Hunters Creek with a group of neighbors and colleagues and spent many Sunday afternoons watching the PGA Tour. His favorite tournament every year was the Masters and he loved telling everyone facts about the course. 

If he wasn’t on the golf course or in Clemson, then you would find him either at Ocean Drive or Edisto. He would set out a beach chair with a fishing pole and throw a line out in the surf. It didn’t matter if it was a pond in the back yard or the intercoastal waterway, he would always find a little time to relax and fish. 

John is preceded in death by his parents, John Gainey Burch and Margaret Jean Ratcliff Burch of Greenwood, SC. 

He his survived by his wife, Susan Sumner Burch of Greenwood, SC; his daughter, Mrs. Sumner Burch Herzberg (Brice G Herzberg) of Greenwood, SC; his aunt, Mrs. Robin Ratliff Tennyson (Jim Tennyson) of Edisto Island, SC; brother, Mr. Rad Burch (Sarena Burch) of West Columbia, SC; sister, Mrs. Alison Burch Lynch (Don Lynch) of Edisto Island, SC; several nieces and nephews; and multiple dogs and cats that he loved and they loved him back.

Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at New Covenant Church, 1509 Woodlawn Road, Greenwood, SC, with Pastor David Harrell officiating. 

The family will receive friends before the service from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM at the church. 

Memorials can be made to Greenwood Humane Society. The family is at their home at 106 Dorsey Ct. Greenwood, SC.