Betty Lee (Boopie) Burton went home to be with Jesus and her family who had gone before her on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 at the age of 89.
She was born on Oct. 28, 1930.
Being a preacher’s kid, Betty had a strong Christian Faith. She had a colorful life, living in different places throughout Virginia, Florida and North Carolina. Her favorite place and lifelong home was always at The Burton House, her family homestead built by her grandfather, Columbus Burton in Urbanna, in the late 1800s.
She enjoyed all aspects of art and was well known locally as a professional artist and art teacher. She loved family, church, river life, boating, crabbing/fishing,
She was preceded in death by her parents, the Rev. Columbus Arthur and Olga Coleman Burton; her sister, Barbara Ann Kennedy; and granddaughter, Hannah Leigh Stewart.
She leaves behind her daughter, Beth Justice Stewart (Rod McMordie) of Urbanna; son, Jeffery Van Justice (Rose) of Melbourne, Fla.; daughter, Bobbi Lee Puryear of Jetersville; son, Lynn Coleman Justice (Jennifer) of Richmond and Joyce Buchanan Ellis (Butch) of Virginia Beach; niece, Lisa Kennedy Brindle (Greg) of Louisa/Urbanna; grandchildren, Morgan Stewart, Dustin Justice, Brandon Justice, Matthew Martin, Jessica White, Ryan Justice, Kristen Ellis; and many great-grandchildren.
Most people thought of Betty as an attractive, vivacious lady who always looked her best. Even though she lived to be almost 90 years old, she remained young at heart.
A celebration of life memorial service for family and close friends will be conducted at the “Burton House” in Urbanna on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Middlesex County Animal Shelter.
