Flora Drewry Bethell Osborne

Flora Drewry Bethell Osborne passed away peacefully on February 26th, 2021 in Greenwich, Connecticut after a brief illness. She was born in South Boston, Virginia on November 14th, 1930 to Flora Redd Wright Bethell and Henry Embry Coleman Bethell. She was brought up in South Boston.

Flora Drewry graduated from Halifax High School at age 16 and earned a bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech University. After marrying Dr. Wyatt Osborne and having four children, she became an art and world history teacher at Blacksburg High School. Flora Drewry and Wyatt traveled to over 32 countries where he reported on his groundbreaking research in the field of plant pathology. Flora Drewry, always curious and an avid learner, shared stories from her travels with her art and history students, bringing learning to life.

After returning to South Boston from Blacksburg in 1978, she was an active member and leader in several local organizations, including South Boston Women's Club (President), Berryman Green Chapter of the DAR (Regent), Garden Club, Herb Club, the Prizery, the Historical Society and the Republican Party. She loved hosting charity events and fundraisers at her home on Main Street. She was also a lifelong member of Christ Episcopal Church.

Her love of travel led her to live in Rome with her daughter Anders for several months in 2019/2020 until the Covid pandemic forced an early return to the States. After a few months in South Boston, Flora Drewry moved to Greenwich CT to share the winter with her daughter, Alease Drewry. She loved having a house full of family doting on her there until her untimely illness.

Flora Drewry was the beloved wife of the late Dr. Wyatt Osborne and devoted mother of the late Walter Osborne (Wendy) of Lawrenceville GA, Bethell-Anne Osborne (Steve Wilson) of Dallas, TX, Alease Fisher Tallman (Paul) of Greenwich CT, and Anders Haines (Alan) of Dallas, TX.

She is survived by her grandchildren Peter Coleman Gonzalez, Andrew Scott Fisher, Jr, Jackson Wyatt Fisher, Henry Coleman Fisher, Wayne Penn Fisher, Abigail Burns, and great-grandson Wayland Gonzalez.

Flora Drewry was a great beauty, gracious and wildly charming, but one word fully describes her: Love. She dearly loved her family and friends and was beloved by all who knew her. She will be sorely missed by her family and scores of friends in Virginia and across the country.

A Celebration of Life will be held this summer in South Boston.

Online condolences may be directed to www.powellfuneralinc.com

Arrangements are by: Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1603 Wilborn Ave., South Boston, VA