Christine Brown Townsell

On October 29, 2025, Christine “Kris” Brown Townsell, fell into eternal sleep in her home in Central Hill.

Christine was born on October 18, 1947, to the late Sarah Agnes & James Milton Brown. She was preceded in death by her first grandson, Mar’Kail Juan Townsell and her husband of nearly 43 years, Dal Major Townsell Sr.

Christine was born and raised in Isle of Wight County and attended Georgie Tyler School. She would later receive her GED and travel to New Jersey to work as a Nursing Assistant. After returning to Virginia, she would soon meet the love of her life while employed at General Electric (GE).

Kris was introduced to Jehovah’s Witnesses and baptized into the ministry on July 14,1974. Since then, she has been a dedicated witness, ministering door-to-door alongside the Kingdom Hall congregations of Windsor and Smithfield. 

Kris worked at the infamous Gwaltney Packing Plant on the “Kill Floor” for ten long years. After that departure, she stayed at home for a short while, working alongside her husband as they built custom patio decks, gazebos, and garages for countless neighbors throughout the area. During those winter months, she was the lead deckhand on Mary Ann, Dal’s oyster boat. 

Kris’ hands were a blessing to her family and friends. She made many dresses especially for her daughters. When her daughters were younger, she did not buy them dolls. Instead, she made them dolls. She would make them brown doll babies. She would dress them in baby clothing, including lace socks and patent leather shoes. Her dolls were so precious. She gained customers that ordered other ethnicities. She also created floral arrangements, and corsages, always adding embellishments to simple spaces. From the apple tree painted on the side of the garage to the hundreds of custom cake decorations, Kris was so artistic. 

Kris would start working in the Bakery Departments of Fresh and Rack-N-Sack before finding her fit at Walmart. She would go on to manage several #1 ranked Walmart Bakeries in the Hampton Roads area. Her creative touch and eye for design would be welcomed there. Even though she enjoyed her career, she found herself just shy of retirement as her husband needed her more. A few months later, he fell into her arms as he took his last breath.

For the next 4,904 days, Kris filled her broken heart with redecorating her home, witnessing with her congregation, and buying up all the hanging plants from Lowe’s. Even though she wasn’t too fond of traveling, in 2018, she flew to New York to visit herlast living aunt, Aunt Lois. In 2019, Crystal and her road tripped down 95 to the Georgia Aquarium and Botanical Gardens. She was mesmerized by what she saw.

Kris enjoyed her life and lived it rich in love, creativity, and faith. She leaves behind a legacy of compassion, artistry, and resilience that will continue to bloom in the hearts of all who knew her.

Kris’ memory will be most cherished by her only son, Dal Townsell Jr. (Catreena), two daughters, LaTisha Taliaferro (Charles), and Crystal Townsell and sister, Sharon Revell, six grandchildren, Imani Townsell, Markus & Markari Taliaferro, Malachi Spruill and Hezekiah Spruill (Ashunta), five great grandchildren, Carter and Cadence Powell, Lucas Reed and Elijah and Hezekiah Spruill Jr., and one brother-in-law, James Brookins(Ann), four sisters-in-law, Arleathia Crocker, Carolyn White, Doana Hatton (Sherman) and Connie Croker (Carlton), and a host of other relatives and friends

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11am on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at Shivers Funeral Chapel. Viewing will take place one hour prior to the service at 10am. Please keep the Brown and Townsell family in your thoughts and prayers. Interment will take place at a later date in Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery. Suffolk, VA.