Lady Elizabeth "Bettie" Sharpe Kahl

Lady Elizabeth (Bettie) Sharpe Kahl, 96, entered her Eternal Home in Heaven on Wednesday, March 8, 2017. Born in McKenney, VA to the late Ivey John and Lady Dean Sharpe, she was only two years old when her family moved to Petersburg. Always an excellent student, Bettie graduated with honors from Petersburg High School. While working in Baltimore during WWII, she took classes at Johns Hopkins University. When Richard Bland opened, Bettie, a life-time learner, enjoyed taking classes there. For over 55 years, she was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church. In 1957, when her husband Eric started his construction company, Bettie worked as office manager and bookkeeper. After Eric retired, this ambitious lady worked at H&R Block, where she was consistently the top tax preparer. She also did much volunteer work through her life, including preparing taxes for senior citizens. Bettie was an avid reader, and enjoyed playing bridge, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends. Bettie was preceded in death by her husband, Eric Kahl; daughter, Erica Anderson; son-in-law, William Barton; sister, Viola Sharpe; and her five brothers, Ivey, Hall, Buck, James, and Robert. Survivors include daughters, Kandice Barton of Townville, SC, and Dean Challen and husband, Richard of Snellville, GA; sister, Paige Abeel of Petersburg; four grandchildren, Richard Challen, Jr., of Charlotte, NC, Elizabeth Challen and husband, Michael of Santa Barbara, CA, Jonathan Challen and wife, Keri of Decatur, GA, and Benjamin Anderson, III of Arlington, VA; five great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., Friday, March 10, 2017 at the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. The Reverend Gerald Miller will conduct the Celebration Service of Bettie’s Life at Trinity United Methodist Church, 215 S. Sycamore St., Petersburg, VA 23803, on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at 1:00 P.M. Interment will follow at Blandford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Trinity United Methodist Church. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .