FRANKLIN, Va. (WAVY) — A beloved Smithfield Middle School physical education teacher is being remembered by her students, fellow educators and the community after she was killed in a car crash Wednesday in Isle of Wight County.
Kristin Felts, though she taught in Smithfield, was a big part of the Franklin community and a beacon of hope for many, which is why local businesses like Serve Restaurant, which fed a somber dinner crowd Thursday night, say they will continue to rally around the family.
“Almost everyone in this community would say the same thing [and] would agree with me that she was a light,” said family friend Alexis Sutton.
The Serve Restaurant staff say this is a tight knit community, so when a local resident Carrie Johnson asked if they could set up a box for donations for the family, it was an easy yes, especially for Sutton, a server at the restaurant and is close friends with one of Felts’ twin daughters.
“We are here to support the Felts family,” Sutton said. “We are proud to be a place where people can come drop off their gift cards, their sympathy letters.”
Kristin Felts and her husband Travis Felts, are both educators, with her husband holding various roles in Franklin City Public Schools over the years. Sutton said Kristin Felts was a regular at just about any sporting event at Franklin, cheering everyone on.
“Everyone in this community knew them,” Sutton said. “They are a tight knit beautiful family.”
Kristin leaves behind her husband and three daughters. This community’s focus moving forward is being there for the Felts and paying their respects to the same educator and cheerleader who always inspired and shaped them.
“My prayers go out to the family,” Sutton said. “They just lost their mom, and that is so hard.”
If you would like to support the Felts family you can drop off of a gift card or monetary donations to Serve Restaurant at 102 N Main St. in Franklin. You can CashApp donations to $IBelieveInFranklinVA. You can Venmo to @Franklin-Carrie. You can Zelle to 757-651-9342 or franklin.carrie@yahoo.com. Paypal donations can be to @franklincarrie.
