Elizabeth "Betty" Neese Brown Felton

ELIZABETH NEESE BROWN FELTON, “Betty”, personified the old saying that “A well spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death.” Betty was a happy soul, always in good spirits. She died on January 19, 2026, with children and grandchildren nearby. She was 97.

Betty was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on March 30, 1928 to Mahlon Randolph Brown Jr. and Mary Allen Carter Brown. She grew up in Bolivar, Tennessee. She attended the University of Tennessee, where she flourished academically, pledged Chi Omega sorority and kept a full dance card. She graduated in 1950 with a degree in Home Economics and Early Childhood Development and started a job teaching in an early childhood development center in Washington, DC. It was there that she met Dodson Hill Felton, who was settling back into civilian life after serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

She and Hill married on June 6, 1952 and moved to Hill’s hometown of South Boston, Virginia. There Betty quickly became engaged in the community. She and Hill started their family with the births of their daughters Mary Berkeley Felton and Elizabeth Jeffress Felton, and later their son Dodson Hill Felton Jr.

Betty was a member of the Berryman-Green Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the John Goode Chapter of the National Society of Colonial Dames XVII Century. She was active in the South Boston Garden Club and Junior Woman’s Club and was also a member of the Paul Jones Cotillion and Dun Roamin Clubs.

As a woman of faith, Betty was heavily involved in many ministries of the Main Street United Methodist Church. Her children joke that when they came home for a visit, they had to go to the church to find their mother!

Betty readily participated in the lives of her 3 children and 6 grandchildren, always supporting their many activities and interests. Betty was a willing volunteer for whatever was needed. She was a good listening ear when visiting with family and friends. No head of household anywhere could top her warm hospitality, floral arrangements and gracious home cooking. When her children and in-laws came to visit, they inevitably would depart Betty’s house 5 pounds heavier!

Betty was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Hill. She is survived by her children Mary Berkeley Meares (Les), Elizabeth Jeffress deGolian (Bill), and Dodson Hill Felton Jr. (Gail). She leaves six grandchildren: Anna Hill Meares, George Lesley Meares IV, Elizabeth Cyprien deGolian, Mary Helen deGolian Matthews (Ben), Dodson Hill Felton III (Courtney), and William Mahlon Felton (Lauren); step granddaughter Caroline Trouche deGolian; and two great grandchildren: Mahlon Parker Felton and Mack Camden Felton. She is also survived by her sisters: Glenn Allen Dobbs, Martha Brown Willoughby and Mary Brown Schneider (Phil).

The funeral for Betty is scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Main Street United Methodist Church in South Boston, followed by a gathering in the church fellowship hall. The family will hold a private graveside service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Main Street United Methodist Church, 701 North Main St, South Boston or a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be directed to www.powellfuneralinc.com

Arrangements entrusted to Powell Funeral Home, 1603 Wilborn Ave., South Boston, VA.