Elizabeth Prewitt Dabney Brown

1931 - 2025

Elizabeth Prewitt Dabney Brown

August 22, 1931 - October 11, 2025

Louisville, Kentucky - Elizabeth Prewitt Dabney Brown (age 94), died peacefully on October 11, 2025, with members of her family present. "Betty" was born in Lexington, Kentucky, August 22, 1931, to Edward Settle Dabney and Katherine Prewitt. Growing up, Betty had especially wonderful memories of her time spent with her maternal grandparents, David and Mary Prewitt, at their home "Dunreath" in Lexington.

After graduating in 1949 from Cathedral School in Washington, D.C., Betty attended Duke University, graduating in 1953. She majored in political science and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. Later, she obtained a teaching certificate at the University of Virginia and taught school in Virginia and Lexington, Kentucky. She also worked in the Washington office of Kentucky Senator John Sherman Cooper, where she developed many lifelong, close friendships.

Throughout her adult life, Betty was an enthusiastic volunteer for and financial supporter of a variety of non-profit organizations. She served as a volunteer courier for the Frontier Nursing Service in the Kentucky mountains and shared many stories about her experiences riding horses into the various rural communities.

In 1977, Betty married Randolph Alexander Brown and moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where she continued her passionate involvement in various non-profit organizations. She was a docent for the Speed Art Museum and a founding member of the A Fund which provided financial assistance to poor women seeking abortions in Kentucky. She served on the boards of the Kentucky Nature Conservancy, Gunston Hall and the Colonial Dames. Betty was also a passionate supporter of the Kentucky Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. She adored dogs and befriended all the neighborhood dogs on her daily walks through Rolling Fields.

Betty is survived by her four daughters Maria Barret Brown (Charles Sawyer), Mary Kent Brown Dabney (William Dabney), Alexandra Ann Brown (Paul McCafferty) and Olivia Davis Brown. She is also survived by her grandson Manton Alexander Paine (Alison Hill), and her great grand-daughter Barret Wells Paine.

She was predeceased by her husband Randolph Alexander Brown, her sister Josephine Marshall Dabney (Fairman Thompson) and her brother, John Winston Dabney of Aiken, South Carolina.

The family extends its deepest gratitude to Betty's longtime personal caregiver Danita Smith. Danita gave professional, kind and insightful care not only to Betty but to the whole family.

Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to The Nature Conservancy, The Kentucky Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and The A Fund (kyafund.org/donate/).

The Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at Pearson Funeral Home, 149 Breckinridge Lane, on Wednesday, November 19th, 2-4 pm. Visitation will be 2-3pm and service at 3 pm.