Tullye Burch Norton Ralph, 78, of Forsyth, Georgia, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, March 29, 2022.
A memorial service will be held 11 AM, Saturday, April 23, 2022, at First Baptist Church in Forsyth, Georgia, with Dr. H. Darrell Watson officiating.
Tullye was born November 16, 1943, in Louisville, Kentucky, to the late Dr. & Mrs. John B. Burch. She was a graduate of Mary Persons High School and attended Tift College and Georgia Southern where she earned a Bachelor’s of Education. A retired teacher, she taught at several schools including Cook County High, Berrien County High, Heritage High of Conyers, and St. Mary’s Middle School.
Tullye’s passion has always been music. She was an accomplished pianist, composer, and director. She played in local bands, conducted choirs and vocal ensembles. She was the minister of music at Nashville United Methodist Church when Nashville, Georgia, was her home. She was the Church Pianist at Russellville Baptist Church in Forsyth and was most recently the Church Pianist at First Baptist Church of Forsyth, where she was a member. Tullye and her husband, Alan, were both dedicated members to the Amelia Community Theatre of Fernandina Beach and most recently The Backlot Players of the Rose Theatre in Forsyth. Through the years they acted in, accompanied, and directed many shows together. Tullye also enjoyed playing bridge with her friends, a good book, sipping coffee, and cuddling up next to her cat. However, she delighted in her family most of all.
She is survived by her daughter, Dawn Norton Williams of Forsyth; her stepchildren: Aubrey Ralph and his spouse, Ginger Williamson of Madison, Wisconsin, Allison Ralph and her spouse, Tom Stephens of Durham, North Carolina; her grandchildren: Stephen Swain and Hannah Williams of Forsyth and Maggie Stephens of Durham, North Carolina; her brother and his spouse, John (Johnny) B. Burch, Jr. & Debra of Fitzgerald; nieces and nephews: Stacy Wells & Jan, their children: Chloe and Bailey of Screven, Jonathan & Melissa Burch, and their daughter Olivia, of Fitzgerald and Emily & Jimmy Howell, and their children, Jadyn, Kerrigan and Kate, of Irwin County. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Alan Ralph and Jim (Norty) Norton and her sister, Glee Burch Bradley.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests those desiring to send memorials, mail them to: The Backlot Players, % Sara Reed, 23 W. Johnson Street, Forsyth, Georgia, 31029.