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Celebrate Betsy Brown’s Life

Elizabeth "Betsy" Fitzgerald Brown, 62, of Virginia Beach, passed away at home on August 27, 2019 from complications of ALS. She is survived by her children, Catherine Brown McFarland (Nathan Allen McFarland) of Charlottesville, Samuel Robbins Brown III of New York City, Elizabeth Brown Shaub (Rane Watson Shaub) of Seattle, and Thomas Fitzgerald Brown of Los Angeles; her brother, Herbert Epes Fitzgerald III (Marian Galleher Fitzgerald) of Richmond; her three grandchildren, Coleman Stuart McFarland, Robert Toms McFarland, and Rankin Carrington Shaub; and her many cousins, nieces, nephews, aunt and uncles, and godchildren. She was known for her smarts, kindness, athleticism, and sense of fun. Her popularity with friends and faculty was evidenced by her contributions as Junior Class Treasurer, Senior Class Vice President, and Senior Prefect, and of course the many social events she attended. After graduating in 1975, she attended Duke University. She loved her time there, both as a member of the field hockey team and president of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. In between weekend invitations to the University of North Carolina, she studied economics. Betsy graduated from Duke in 1979, and after a brief stint living with friends and working in Alexandria, she married and moved to Virginia Beach. She was Vice President of Private Banking at Crestar Bank, served as President of the Junior Virginia Beach Garden Club, and as a Vestry Member and the Head of Flower Guild at Galilee Episcopal Church. She valued creativity, which she expressed through endless projects in her home and garden. Among all the activities, Betsy adored time at the beach or Gloucester Banks, her childhood summer home on the York River. None of these things, however, compared to the ultimate joy of family. Betsy devoted her life to her four children, her life’s greatest works. Through the course of her 16 year long disease, she faced much adversity yet refused to accept it or slow down. Whether attending sporting events or graduations, planning debutante balls or weddings, and of course becoming a grandmother, she remained the force behind her family. Catherine, Beau, Liza, and Thomas would like to thank her closest friends and many caregivers, especially Julie, Christina, and Shari, for their years of dedication to Betsy. In lieu of flowers, Betsy's family and friends generously donated to the Iron Horse Party to benefit the ALS Association. We look forward to honoring and celebrating the life of Betsy Brown at this year’s event in May.