Sarah Frances Crumbley

Sarah Frances ("Fran") Burch Crumbley, age 87, of Hiawassee passed away on October 7, 2025. She was born May 6, 1938, in Inman, Georgia and was preceded in death by her parents, Walter Lee and Verna Roberts Burch. Fran was also preceded in death by her husband, James "Colvin" Crumbley and her nine siblings: Walt (Bea) Burch, Gray (Aline, Mary Nell) Burch, Mary Jean Burch, Iris (Becky) Burch, John (Jane) Burch, Eva Hardin, Bessie (Lee Ross) Buttram, Abb Burch, and Arthur (Jeanne) Burch. Growing up, she was the youngest of the ten children and was affectionately known by her family and friends as "Frannie".
Fran is survived by her children Jonathan (Kim) Crumbley of Jasper, Georgia, and Jill (Jay) Fowler of Hiawassee, Georgia; her grandchildren Sarah (Zach) Moss, Luke Crumbley, Caroline Fowler, Ryan (Chloe) Fowler and step-granddaughter Lexi (John) Heart. She had one great- grandson, Tucker Moss and two step great-grandchildren, Asher & Brooks Heart. Additional family survivors include her brother-in-laws, Sam Crumbley and Eddy (Cathy) Crumbley, and sister-in-law Mary Burch, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
Fran graduated from Fayette County High School in 1956. While in high school, she excelled in sports and music, as well as academics. After graduation, Fran attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA, where she continued to play basketball. Her junior year she transferred to the University of Georgia where she graduated with a B.S. in Home Economics and a minor in Science in 1960. She started her teaching career in Savannah-Chatham County. Later she also taught in Fulton County (Russell High) and Henry County (Stockbridge and McDonough). She married Colvin Crumbley in 1962. After her husband's job with Gulf Oil transferred their family to Virginia and Pennsylvania, Fran gave up teaching in order to stay at home and take care of her children. Fran was known for her skills in the kitchen as well as maintaining her beautiful home and yard. Along with her husband, she taught Sunday School for many years at Mountain Park First Baptist Church (Gwinnett County) and Salem Baptist Church in McDonough. During the time she lived in McDonough, she was an active member of the Willing Workers Sunday School at Salem Baptist Church, and she enjoyed attending many Bible Studies. While her husband was living, they enjoyed traveling with friends to many destinations across six of the seven continents. During her later years, she moved from Stockbridge to Hiawassee, Georgia, to be closer to her family.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at Cannon Cleveland Funeral Home in McDonough, Georgia with a burial following at Salem Baptist Church. The family will receive friends at 10:00 AM with a service following at 11:00 AM. Those desiring to make contributions may do so to the Children's Ministry at Macedonia Baptist Church in Hiawassee, Georgia. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sarah, please visit our floral store.