Deputy Frankie Lynn Betterton Scholarship opened

Danville, VA – Dorinda B. Yeatts, sister of Frankie Lynn Betterton, has opened a scholarship fund in his memory with The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region. Deputy Sheriff Frankie Lynn Betterton was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on May 17, 2002.

Deputy Betterton had two vehicles pulled over at this traffic stop. One vehicle was being driven by a male, and the other vehicle was driven by his girlfriend. After letting the girlfriend go, Deputy Betterton had the male sit in his patrol car.

The male, who was seated in the passenger seat, produced a .380 caliber handgun and shot Deputy Betterton once in the head. The male fled the scene but was apprehended the following morning. The male was charged and convicted with capital murder and the jury recommended the death penalty, but the judge instead sentenced the male to life in prison.

Deputy Betterton had been employed with the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office for three years.

The Deputy Frankie Lynn Betterton Scholarship Fund will award scholarships to deserving Danville/Pittsylvania residents who have a financial need and who are pursuing a law enforcement career.

Dorinda Yeatts explained that she had been looking for a suitable way to honor her brother’s memory as the 10th anniversary of his death approaches. Yeatts gave the first donations to the scholarship. She hopes the deputy’s many friends and supporters will help build the scholarship so it can reach the $25,000 minimum required for a permanent, endowed scholarship.

How to Give

 Donors who wish to support the Deputy Frankie Lynn Betterton Scholarship can send donations to The Community Foundation, 541 Loyal Street, Danville, VA   24541. Online credit card gifts can be made at www.cfdrr.org. Please designate the Betterton Scholarship Fund for your gift.

In addition to monetary donations, the Community Foundation of the Dan River Region also accepts donations of property and other assets. These donations can often relieve tax burdens for those who donate, their estates or their heirs. Our professional advisors will work with you to find the best options available for maximizing your gift’s value.

Appreciated Property – Gifts of stocks, bonds, mutual funds and real estate can result in dual tax benefits; the full value of the assets are usually deductible, with no capital gains tax paid on the appreciation.

Wills – A will bequest made to the Community Foundation of the Dan River Region is deductible for federal estate tax purposes and may result in additional savings on state inheritance and estate taxes.

IRAs – The gift of an IRA to the Community Foundation of the Dan River Region can, upon your death, eliminate significant income-tax liabilities for the estate.

Life Insurance – A life insurance gift, through a new or existing policy, offers a cost-effective way to make a significant gift to the Community Foundation of the Dan River Region.

The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region is an independent, 501c3 public charity established in September 1996 by a steering committee of local civic leaders to gather permanent funds to support our area. The Foundation services a region from Martinsville/Henry County through Danville/Pittsylvania County to South Boston/Halifax County, including Caswell County and the neighboring North Carolina counties.