Ms. Betty Darlene Brown

June 6, 1938 - January 12, 2022

Betty Darlene Brown was born to Johnny Henry and Lillie Mae Henry (Lewis) on June 6,1938 in Atkinson, North Carolina. Also born from this union were two boys: Leonie Henry and Johnny W. Henry, and two girls; Shirley M. Colvin (deceased) and Barbara Ann Payne. She attended school in Pender County school system. She accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of the Lakes Chapel Baptist Church. In 1955, her father passed, and around 1961 or 1962, she moved to Alexandria, Virginia with her mother and siblings. Her mother passed in 1994. She was employed by Alexandria City Public Schools as a bus driver. She also worked part-time as a bus driver for DASH Transit, the public bus system for the city of Alexandria. After 35 years of ser- vice, she retired from Alexandria City Public Schools and DASH Transit. After retirement, her and a group of some other retired co-workers from the school system, formed a social club called, "55 Plus Supper Club." They consistently met once a month at a restaurant to have fellowship and celebrate birthdays. For over twenty years, she volunteered and served alongside another ministry to feed the homeless. She was one of the head cooks and she also assisted with distributing the food. She was an active member of Harvest Assembly Baptist Church until the circumstances of COVID-19. She then began faithfully attending Knew Testament Church virtual services. The family would also like to acknowledge her Pastors, Johnnie and Velvet Abrams, and her circle of friends, Mrs. Mary Bates, Mrs. Reacer Baah, Mrs. Davenport, Mrs. Byrd, Marsha Cecil, and Deaconess Myra Moore, who referred to Betty as her Virginia mom. Betty was a caring mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She loved spending time in the kitchen, creating delicious meals for her family. She also enjoyed singing, she joined and sung on the Senior choir for a season. She opened her home to host cell groups for bible study, where she also cooked and served the group dinner. Betty gave birth to four boys and one girl, Larry W. Henry (deceased), Anita Henry, Michael C. Henry (deceased), Ronald L. Henry, and Werner L. Brown (Lisa). Three of her boys were born to her former husband, Ervin Brown. She also shared joint custody of her great granddaughter, Eden Janeal Coles. In addition to her three siblings and three children, she is survived by fifteen grandchildren, twelve great- grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, family and friends.