Obituary for Jeffrey Glen Burcham
Jeffrey Glen Burcham, 60, of Martinsburg passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at his residence.
Born May 13, 1959 in Winchester, VA, he is the son of Richard Glen Burcham and Deanna Virginia Cain Fry.
Jeff was awarded an academic science/language diploma from John Handley High School, Winchester, VA in 1977; in 1981 he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science from The George Washington University in Washington, DC; and awarded a Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, CA in 1985.
He was employed as an associate in the law firm of Rodgers and Kiser, Martinsburg, WV from March 1986 through July 1989; and then was appointed as the Region 20 Family Law Master by the Honorable Gaston Caperton from August 1989 through December 1992.
Jeff went into private practice of law in Martinsburg from January 1, 1993 through May 2015. He most recently was employed at the Public Defender’s Office in Berkeley County from May 2015 until the present. He was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court in CA in 1985, admitted to practice before the WV Supreme Court of Appeals in 1986, admitted to practice before the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in 1987, and admitted to practice before the Federal District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of WV in 1986.
He was a member of the Berkeley County Bar Association, and former member of the American Bar Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the WV Family Law Master Association.
He was a life member of Phi Delta Phi Honorary Legal Fraternity. Brother Burcham was initiated into C. Vernon Eddy Chapter of the Order of DeMolay in Winchester, VA May 5, 1975 and was Master Councilor in 1977.
Brother Burcham was raised a Master Mason in Winchester, Hiram Lodge #21 AF & AM, Winchester, VA on September 23, 1980, serving as Worshipful Master in 1993. He was also a life member of Winchester Hiram Lodge, a member of Unity Lodge #146 AF & AM in Front Royal, VA, Past Master of Virginia Research Lodge No. 1777 in 2001 and a member of the Civil War Lodge of Research 1865.
He was also a member of many Masonic Bodies, both in Virginia and West Virginia. He was a Past Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Virginia in 2000-2001. He served as Grand Commander, Knights Templar of the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2008-2009. He also served as Most Illustrious Grand Master, Cryptic Masons, of the District of Columbia in 2011-2012. He was Department Commander, Mid-Atlantic Department, Grand Encampment, Knights Templar of the USA from 2012-2015. Exalted in John Dove Chapter #21 Royal Arch Masons in Winchester, VA September 4, 1982 and served as High Priest in 1988-89 and 2009-10.
He was currently a member of the Jurisprudence Committee, of the Grand Encampment Knights Templar of the USA from 2016-2018 and was currently serving as Chairman of the Jurisprudence Committee at the time of his passing.
He was a Past Prior of the Shenandoah Priory No. 32, Knights of the York Cross of Honor and a holder of three Quadrants. He was also a Past Grand Governor York Rite Sovereign College of Virginia.
He was also a founder of the West Virginia College, Rosicrucian Society, SRICF and holder of the Ninth Order in that Body. He was coronated a 33 Degree Scottish Rite Mason from the Valley of Martinsburg, WV and served as Personal Representative of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Orient of West Virginia from 2001-2012.
He was a founding member of the Red Cross of Constantine, Shenandoah Conclave in Winchester, VA and was a Past Sovereign of that body. He was a founding member of the Bull Run Operatives Assemblage in Winchester, VA and also a founding member of the Duke of Cumberland Masonic Order of Athelstan Society also in Winchester. He was Past Excellent Chief of the Knight Masons, Virginia Council No. 12 and was serving as Grand Superintendent, Division of Virginia at the time of his passing. He was also a founding member and Past Sovereign of the Rock of Cashel Council, Allied Masonic Degrees, Winchester, VA. He was initiated into Shenandoah Forest #150 Tall Cedars of Lebanon in 1997.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Tammy Lee Nester Burcham; three daughters, Brittany Matzureff and husband George, Miranda “Mandy” Lynn Burcham and fiancé Joshua Myers, and Katherine Elizabeth Burcham and boyfriend David Simmons, Jr.; three grandchildren, Cianna, Kylee, and Lea; one brother, Norman Gregory Fry and wife Jasmine; four nieces, Amelie, Anabelle, Shannon, and Brandy; one nephew, Michael; and beloved grand-pups, Winky and Missy.
Family will receive friends on Monday, November 11, 2019, from 5:00PM to 8:00PM at the Brown Funeral Home South Berkeley Chapel in Inwood, 287 Arden Nollville Road, Inwood, WV 25428.
A Masonic memorial service will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at 7:00PM at the Hiram Lodge #21 AF & AM, 118 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA 22601.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made payable to The Alzheimer’s Association with special note in the memo line “John Dove Chapter No. 21- District No. 15”; and mail to Mark Pennypacker, 604 South Stewart Street, Winchester, VA 22601.
Born May 13, 1959 in Winchester, VA, he is the son of Richard Glen Burcham and Deanna Virginia Cain Fry.
Jeff was awarded an academic science/language diploma from John Handley High School, Winchester, VA in 1977; in 1981 he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science from The George Washington University in Washington, DC; and awarded a Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, CA in 1985.
He was employed as an associate in the law firm of Rodgers and Kiser, Martinsburg, WV from March 1986 through July 1989; and then was appointed as the Region 20 Family Law Master by the Honorable Gaston Caperton from August 1989 through December 1992.
Jeff went into private practice of law in Martinsburg from January 1, 1993 through May 2015. He most recently was employed at the Public Defender’s Office in Berkeley County from May 2015 until the present. He was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court in CA in 1985, admitted to practice before the WV Supreme Court of Appeals in 1986, admitted to practice before the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in 1987, and admitted to practice before the Federal District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of WV in 1986.
He was a member of the Berkeley County Bar Association, and former member of the American Bar Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the WV Family Law Master Association.
He was a life member of Phi Delta Phi Honorary Legal Fraternity. Brother Burcham was initiated into C. Vernon Eddy Chapter of the Order of DeMolay in Winchester, VA May 5, 1975 and was Master Councilor in 1977.
Brother Burcham was raised a Master Mason in Winchester, Hiram Lodge #21 AF & AM, Winchester, VA on September 23, 1980, serving as Worshipful Master in 1993. He was also a life member of Winchester Hiram Lodge, a member of Unity Lodge #146 AF & AM in Front Royal, VA, Past Master of Virginia Research Lodge No. 1777 in 2001 and a member of the Civil War Lodge of Research 1865.
He was also a member of many Masonic Bodies, both in Virginia and West Virginia. He was a Past Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Virginia in 2000-2001. He served as Grand Commander, Knights Templar of the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2008-2009. He also served as Most Illustrious Grand Master, Cryptic Masons, of the District of Columbia in 2011-2012. He was Department Commander, Mid-Atlantic Department, Grand Encampment, Knights Templar of the USA from 2012-2015. Exalted in John Dove Chapter #21 Royal Arch Masons in Winchester, VA September 4, 1982 and served as High Priest in 1988-89 and 2009-10.
He was currently a member of the Jurisprudence Committee, of the Grand Encampment Knights Templar of the USA from 2016-2018 and was currently serving as Chairman of the Jurisprudence Committee at the time of his passing.
He was a Past Prior of the Shenandoah Priory No. 32, Knights of the York Cross of Honor and a holder of three Quadrants. He was also a Past Grand Governor York Rite Sovereign College of Virginia.
He was also a founder of the West Virginia College, Rosicrucian Society, SRICF and holder of the Ninth Order in that Body. He was coronated a 33 Degree Scottish Rite Mason from the Valley of Martinsburg, WV and served as Personal Representative of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Orient of West Virginia from 2001-2012.
He was a founding member of the Red Cross of Constantine, Shenandoah Conclave in Winchester, VA and was a Past Sovereign of that body. He was a founding member of the Bull Run Operatives Assemblage in Winchester, VA and also a founding member of the Duke of Cumberland Masonic Order of Athelstan Society also in Winchester. He was Past Excellent Chief of the Knight Masons, Virginia Council No. 12 and was serving as Grand Superintendent, Division of Virginia at the time of his passing. He was also a founding member and Past Sovereign of the Rock of Cashel Council, Allied Masonic Degrees, Winchester, VA. He was initiated into Shenandoah Forest #150 Tall Cedars of Lebanon in 1997.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Tammy Lee Nester Burcham; three daughters, Brittany Matzureff and husband George, Miranda “Mandy” Lynn Burcham and fiancé Joshua Myers, and Katherine Elizabeth Burcham and boyfriend David Simmons, Jr.; three grandchildren, Cianna, Kylee, and Lea; one brother, Norman Gregory Fry and wife Jasmine; four nieces, Amelie, Anabelle, Shannon, and Brandy; one nephew, Michael; and beloved grand-pups, Winky and Missy.
Family will receive friends on Monday, November 11, 2019, from 5:00PM to 8:00PM at the Brown Funeral Home South Berkeley Chapel in Inwood, 287 Arden Nollville Road, Inwood, WV 25428.
A Masonic memorial service will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at 7:00PM at the Hiram Lodge #21 AF & AM, 118 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA 22601.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made payable to The Alzheimer’s Association with special note in the memo line “John Dove Chapter No. 21- District No. 15”; and mail to Mark Pennypacker, 604 South Stewart Street, Winchester, VA 22601.