Betty Reed Buchanan

Woodbridge, Virginia a€" Betty Reed Buchanan was a resident of Lake Ridge, Virginia community for 34 years. She lost her battle with chronic illness on Thursday, April 21, 2016 at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center. Born in Kingsport, Tennessee on May 20, 1945, Betty lived her early life in Nickelsville, Virginia and attended Nickelsville High School. Later, she moved to Kingsport, Tennessee where she met her future husband and graduated salutatorian of Ketron High School's class of 1963. Betty also attended the University of Maryland Ramstein, Germany campus. She was a legal assistant with Hunter, Smith, Davis, Norris, Waddy and Treadway in Kingsport and the Murfreesboro City Attorney for several years before choosing to support her husband in his Air Force career. It was an avenue that took them around the world and allowed Betty to experience the world on her own terms. In 1980, she welcomed her son Scott into the world and poured her heart into motherhood and homemaking, not to mention becoming a lacrosse and football advocate and later a loving grandmother. Betty loved to prepare outstanding country food enhanced by German and French influences. Her focus was on her family and home. She enjoyed traveling, collecting copper and brass, shopping, and country music. The Opry was a mandatory stop for many trips. Although she traveled the world, she never lost her country roots. Betty had a gift for gab, a sly wit and wonderful smile that could light up a room.

She was preceded in death by parents, Clyde C. and Sally B. Reed.

Betty is survived by her husband, Paul E. "Ed" Buchanan, Jr.; her son, Scott E. Buchanan; daughter-in-law, Brittany Brooke Buchanan; and grandchildren, Garrity Jane and Brady Edward Buchanan, who live in northern Virginia, and brought great joy to her later years. She is also survived by her brother, Ronnie Reed, and sister-in-law Marion Reed, of Piney Flats; brother, Jerry Reed, and sister-in-law Gail Reed of Colonial Heights; nieces, Julie Reed, Joi Harrell, and husband Patrick, Erin Reaves and husband Clark; nephews, Jonathan Reed and wife Katie, and Hunter Reed and wife Sabrina; great nieces, Ava and Abigail Reed, and Jordin Harrell; great nephew, Reed Harrell and her special cousin, Susie Messer.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26th at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport. The service will follow with Philip Sams, of the First Christian Church, where Betty and Ed wed in 1967, officiating.

A private burial will be held at a later date at Holston View Cemetery.