Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I am not writing this as an attorney so much as the wife of a Danville City Police Officer. My husband Dennis and I knew Frankie and we know his wife, Mary. Our hearts go out to the Betterton family and all families of law enforcement during times like these. Frankie was a good man and he leaves behind a legacy of a loving family and memories of a man who did his job with honor and humility. He will be missed. Lee Hendricks Turpin

Spouse; Lee H. Turpin
Lee H. Turpin, Atty at Law

PLEASE DON'T CRY

Please don't cry because I'm gone for I am just "away'. I did not die and never will, I'm with you everyday. It's true that I have left the Earth and live in spirit here, with a peace and love I can't explain. I'm happy, have no fear. Who I was, I still am now, even better than before. Heaven holds such beauty here, with mountains, trees and more. Please don't cry, just speak of me the way you used to do. Make our memories happy ones that hug and comfort you. Remember me with happiness. Don't grieve because I'm gone, in Heaven I'm growing still and my life continues on. Please don't cry because I share all that you say and do. In every moment of every day my love is with you, too
written by Maureen Phillbrook

MASTER DEPUTY KELLY SMITH
DANVILLE SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Our hearts are so sad from the loss of a dear friend. Sadly missed and our community will never be the same with out Officer Frankie Betterton. With love and prayers to his family.

A friend

To the family of Deputy Betterton,

Thank you for allowing your husband,father,brother,and son to be in the Law enforcement field. If it wasn't for you, he could have gotten all of the praise he has gotten on earth. It is obvious he had a family that loved him and backed him in his chosen profession. My heart goes out to you in your time of trouble. As you can tell Deputy Betterton has touched not only the ones here in Danville and Pittsylvania County. He has touched everyone across the United States.

I would like to leave two songs with you-
"Make the works I've done speak for me"
For the work Deputy Betterton done you can tell he was "On the Battlefield for his Lord."(the title is "I'm on the Battlefield for my Lord)

To the Betterton Family you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Now that he is resting in peace, rest assure he has joined a new force. Let us live so we can meet him on the streets of gold. For he is stand at the gates guarding them.

On behalf of
Thomas D. Mclauglin(father)
Verlena C. McLaughlin(mother) & Family

J. W. McLaughlin,P. O./ S.R.O. #104
Danville Police Dept.

To the family, friends and Co-workers of Frankie Betterton
my deepest sympathy and prayers are with you. Today as I watched your funeral procession enter Danville Memorial Gardens I only wished you could have seen all your Fellow Police Officers from "all" over and know how much you were respected. The street was line with peoples who wanted to pay respect to your family, such out pouring of love from citizens of Danville, Pitts. Co and Caswell Co. Thank you
for all your dedication in your work . May God be with your family in the days ahead and grant them the Peace that Passes all.

Debra Shackelford
mother of Danville Police Officer

Our prayers and thoughts are with the Betterton family in their time of need. Thank you, Deputy Frankie Betterton, for protecting the citizens of Pittsylvania County. You will be sadly missed. Truly a hero to us all.

Anonymous

"GOODNIGHT SWEET PRINCE AND FLIGHTS OF ANGELS SING THE TO THY REST"

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and the entire community.

Sevier County, Tennessee

Anonymous

Frank I will always remember your smiling face walking into the turkey shoot building, always saying you were gonna take all the prizes home when the night was done. I will also never forget one afternoon while washing the Fire Truck you snuck up behind me in your patrol car and proceeded to hit the siren, scaring the you-know-what out of me. I would turn, you sitting there just grinning away. Frankie you were a model of what all of us should strive to be, your commitment to God, family, duty and friends. You will always be with us, the world lost a excellent man, and heaven gained a excellent spirit. Miss you brother

Firefighter Cleve Leonard
Brosville Volunteer Fire Dept

As a secretary for the Danville Police Department I mourn along with all law enforcement officers over the death of Deputy Betterton. I did not know Deputy Betterton personally but from what I have seen from the outpouring of condolences by others he seemed to be an example for ALL of us to aspire to. He showed dedication to God, family and community. He showed us what our priorites should be, regardless of what profession we choose. Thank you Deputy Betterton for leaving a legacy for us to follow.

Sharon Eldridge Bohannon
Danville Police Department

Im sadden beyond words that yet another brother blue was taken from us so soon. But im up lifted in the knowledge that he is in better place now. It takes a certain kind of person to be able to wear the badge. Deputy Betterton was truly a role model that everybody can look up. If we had more people like Deputy Betterton in this world than I know much of the violence and bloodshed we see in this world would not exist. I proudly dedicate this payer that we use (United States Air Force Security Police) to the of memory Deputy Betterton

Lord, you have called us to be guardians
of a nation founded on your principles.
Whatever our tasks as Security Police men and women,
we do them to serve you and our nation.
We are proud to accept the responsibility of this high calling.
We dedicated ourselves to our vocation,
and ask for guidance and courage
in aiding our people to live with dignity, in safety and peace.
We know that true security comes from your presence,
so we pray with the psalmist:
You bless those who obey you, Lord;
Your love protects them like a shield.
Use us, O Lord, as a shield for your people,
reflecting your security and peace.

SRA Jason Slaughter
United States Air Force Security Police

Policeman's Prayer

O God, whose great power and wisdom embraces the universe. Watch over all policemen everywhere.

Protect them from harm in the performance of their duty to stop crime, robbery and violence.

Help them keep our streets and homes safe day and night. We commend them to your loving care because their duty is dangerous.

Give them strength and courage
grant them your Almighty protection.

Unite them safely with their families after duty has ended.
Amen.

To Mary just remember:

"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." Isaiah 43:2

"But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles: they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31
Our prayers are with you. Doug & Cheryl Young

Doug & Cheryl Young
Danville Emergency Services (Police Officer for 13 yrs.)

TO THE FAMILY, FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS OF FRANKIE: MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL OF YOU. MAY GOD BE WITH YOU AND COMFORT YOU IN THIS TIME OF NEED.

Anonymous

My deepest sympathies are extended to the Betterton Family as well as my brothers and sisters of the Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Department. May God give us all strength and guidance during a very difficult time. Frankie's service to the department, the community and God will not be forgotten.

Detective T.E.Merricks
Danville Police Dept.

YOU WERE THERE


When someone needed a Son, You Were There

When someone needed a Brother, You Were There

When someone needed a Husband, You Were There

When someone needed a Father, You Were There

When someone needed a Neighbor, You Were There

When someone needed a Friend, You Were There

When someone needed a Counselor, You Were There

When someone needed a Christian, You Were There

When someone needed an Officer, You Were There

When God called you Home, You Were There

I will no longer see you, but my memories will live forever because, You Were There


God Bless you Frankie, and thank you for being there for me when I needed that “someone” the most.

Jim Davis
Danville, Virginia

Jim Davis
Pittsylvania County Dept of Emergency Management & Communications

To Deputy Betterton's family and friends:

I said a prayer for you today
and I know God must have heard
I felt the answer in my heart
although He spoke no word
I didn't ask for wealth or fame.
I knew you wouldn't mind,
I asked Him to send treasures of a far lasting kind.
I asked that
He'd be near you at the start of
each new day. To grant you
health and blessings and friends
to share your way. I asked for
happiness for you in all things
great and small, but it was for
His loving care I prayed the most of all.

School Resource Officer
Danville Police Dept.

A beautiful spirit flew away on Friday afternoon. Frankie will be sorely missed by our dept but especially by CeCom C Shift. He had a unique way of brightening the room when he bounced in with a smile on his face. I'll always remember "Hey, Ms Jones" and his happy chuckle. To Frankie's parents, his wife and children, his siblings
and all who loved him, we loved and will truly miss him too. Our hearts and prayers are with you all.
Please take Comfort in knowing that God does all things Well and He has not left us nor has He Forsaken us.

DISPATCHER M C JONES
PITT CO SO / 911

My families deepest sympathy go out to the Betterton Family. God be with each and every one of you through this terrible time. Just from my brief time that I met him, it was obvious that he was a fine Christian man, and truly a great person. It is awful, the senseless act that this murderer did. It will not be in vain, justice will prevail!
God grant you all the peace & understanding that only He can give.

Halifax County Citizen

I did not have the pleasure of personally knowing Frankie Betterton, but I deal with Pittsylvania Co. officer's everyday. I want each of you to know how much we appreciate the risk you take. If Officer Betterton's dream was to become a policeman to help others, he and his family should be very proud. It's officers like him that exemplify the motto serve and protect. Please take comfort in knowing your loved one was a man of great honor.

We all take our lives for granted thinking that will always have the next time to say or do what we should have. NEVER let a day go by without telling your loved ones how much you care.

Errin Clay
Commonwealth Radio Services, Inc.

Such a waste. No sense at all, but is there ever? Your life will mean something and your death will not have been in vain. Our community is truly less today.

R. Daron Lollis
n/a

My heart goes out to Officer Betterton's family, friends and co-workers. May God bless them and watch over them in their time of need.

T.T.
Pittsylvania Co. Resident

Deputy Sheriff Frankie Betterton died doing what he loved beside his family. god had other plans for him. He will be missed by many,but never forgotten!

Anonymous

On behalf of the Virginia State Police, Area 43, Pittsylvania County, our prayers and thoughts go out to the family, friends of Freddie and the Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Department and staff. We have all lost not only a friend, co-worker, but a truly wonderful person. His loss will be missed by so many. Words can not express our sadness. God must have needed him more than we did.

Francine Bentley, Senior Secretary
Virginia State Police

To Deputy Betterton family and friends our thoughts and prayers goes out to you. May God Bless you and may your love one rest in peace.

D. Jones
Mother of Officer Ron Jones
EOW 12/26/01

When Danville EOC put out the BOL for Frankie's killer last Friday afternoon our hearts sank. We at the Danville PD work with Pittsylvania County nearly as much as we work with each other. Someone has harmed one of us! Once the tragic news came of Frankie's passing, every detective in Danville dropped what they were doing and awaited word hoping to be able to assist in bringing this coward to justice. That was already well underway due to the Deputies of the Pittsylvania County Sherriff's Office. Mike Mondul and I had just two days earlier attended the Memorial Service in Washington D.C. for law enforcement officers lost in the line of duty nationwide during the previous year. 233 new names went on the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. One inscription I felt noteworthy and applicable to Frankie is this: "It is not how these officers died that made them heroes, it is how they lived".

Det. Matt Carter
Danville Police Department

We did not know Frankie on a personal basis, but we feel as though we have lost a family member.We are very proud of him as a fellow officer and we are also proud that he was a christian man and was not ashamed to show it. Frankie has earned many treasures in heaven by helping those in need and protecting his community. Frankie was obviously loved by everyone dearly and his memories will be with us forever.To Mrs. Betterton and children the road will be tough, but God will see you through. You will be in our prayers in the days ahead. Just remember the "Foot Prints in the Sand." God Bless you. Robert and Sandra Jennings

Deputy Robert Jennings & wife Sandra
Pittsylvania Co. Sheriff's Office