Elizabeth Martin Overton

Elizabeth Martin Overton 102, of Halifax and South Boston passed away peacefully on January 2, 2024, after a very enjoyable celebration of her 103^rd Christmas and New Years Holidays.

Elizabeth was born on April 4, 1921 to the late Hazel Clayton Martin and the late Mabel Fugate Martin. Born in Kentucky, Elizabeth’s formative years were spent in Lee Co., VA and in the adjoining county of Hancock, TN. A graduate of Lee County High School, Elizabeth earned her B.S.-Home Economics in 1942 from VPI (VA Tech) and her M. Ed from UVA in 1974.

During the War and for several years Post-War, Elizabeth was a USDA Scientist in the Division of Fresh and Processed Foods, ensuring that East Coast (Florida to Maine) vegetable and fruit crops being harvested and processed met quality and safety standards required by US and Allied Troops and the public. Elizabeth met her future husband while a student at VPI. Married in February 1943, she was married to the late Edward Taylor Overton, Sr. for 59 years.

Elizabeth was a member of Beth Car Baptist Church. She retired after 28 years teaching for Halifax Co. Public Schools, 27 as one of the County’s first Special Education teachers. She took an active role in many activities impacting her community, ranging from raising funds to build the Halifax County Community Hospital in the early 50’s to her many decades of membership in the Banister River Garden Club and the Halifax Woman’s Club, and her last 40 plus years as an Extension Master Gardener Volunteer, teaching other volunteers and residents on a broad array of horticultural topics. She was a Charter Member of the Halifax County, the Southside Virginia, and the Virginia Master Gardeners Associations.  She was passionate about her interests, and strived to be the best at what she was working on.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Taylor Overton, Sr., her son, John Clayton Overton., her sister, Mary-Ruth Martin Jones and brother-in-law Robert R. Jones. She leaves behind her son, Edward Taylor Overton, Jr. of Williamsburg, VA; daughter Ramah Overton Cook and husband John of Atlanta, GA; granddaughter Taylor St. John Overton Taylor of Dover, PA; and grandson Edward Taylor Overton, III and wife Victoria, great-grandson Charles Overton and great-granddaughter Josephine Overton all of Chesterfield, VA., her niece Elizabeth Jones Dern (Robert) of Morehead City, NC and great niece Liana McNutt (Brad) and daughters Hannah and Sammie of Greensboro, NC.

A funeral service will be held Monday, January 8, 2024 at 11:00 am at Beth Car Baptist Church with the Rev. Thad Decker officiating. Burial to follow at the Halifax Cemetery. Following the burial, a reception will be held at Beth Car Baptist Church.

For memorials, please consider the Southern Virginia Botanical Gardens, P.O. Box 624, Halifax, VA 24558-0624, or a charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be directed to www.powellfuneralinc.com

Arrangements have been entrusted to Powell Funeral Home, 1603 Wilborn Ave., South Boston, VA 24592

You may view her tribute video by clicking here: https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/989YKXQ97CJBXKG3