Jean Shiflett

           Bettie Jean Kinton Shiflett

(Jean) was born May 28, 1933. She died peacefully on May 12, 2025, at her home in Mechanicsville, VA. With her faithful daughter Yvonne as caregiver since 2016, and grand-dog, Lucy. 

She was nestled in bed, with her favorite blankets, wearing one of her classic signature hats, and fuzzy Ugg socks. Jean grew up living on a tobacco farm with a large family of nine members.

She was raised by her parents, Columbia and Oscar Kinton, along with seven siblings: 3 sisters, Florence, Hester, and Joan, her twin sister, and 3 brothers, Elton, Earl, and Thomas. 

Being the youngest in her family, her siblings naturally preceded her in death. Her age reflects having lived an extraordinary life through many eras of unique experiences.

She was born at home in a small, modest, white house, found on Winterpock Road, known today as Adventure Hill, a landmark property in Chesterfield, VA. 

Her older siblings were sent away to their grandmothers, while her father, Oscar, took the horse and buggy to retrieve the midwife to help with the birth. 

Alone, her mother, Columbia, delivered her twins next to a wood stove, both weighing only 2 lbs each. As one family story recalls, Aunt Grace commented “The twins were the size of kittens.” For their sleeping arrangements, they were cradled side by side inside a safe, cozy, comfortable dresser drawer. 

Amazingly, the Kinton twins survived, beginning life with a remarkable home birth of resilient survival when medical NICUs did not exist. 

When Oscar returned home with the midwife, Columbia asked him, “To come here, and bring the oil lamp." When he drew closer, he said.

"I'll be damned if it's not two of them.” 

Jean’s marriage to Joseph Odell Shiflett began on April 16, 1960, at Second Branch Baptist Church in Chesterfield, VA. It snowed on the morning of their wedding, yet turned into a beautiful spring day. Her ceremony was the last wedding held at Second Branch before a fire claimed the church, deeming it a total loss. Prior to the fire, baptisms were done in the creek, which was in close proximity to the Church.

Jean and Joe loved dancing, water skiing, and cooking together when they were first married.  After retiring from General Motors, Jean and Joe enjoyed a simpler life, fishing and crabbing on the Chesapeake Bay, spending most of their time in Mathews County, VA, until Joe's death in 1999.

Jean is survived by her daughter Yvonne and 2 grandchildren, Alec and Colin Kidd, with numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her son, Steven Shiflett, in 1989 and her husband, Joe, in 1999. She will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's foundation. 

A graveside service will be held at Signal Hill Memorial Park, May 20, 2025, at 2 pm, 12360 Hanover Courthouse Rd, Hanover, VA 23069. A celebration of Jeans's life, following the graveside service.

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