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By Titus Mohler and Stephen Faleski

Staff Writers

 

Kristin Felts is remembered as a special person who loved those she knew without exception. This love was expressed most distinctly as a wife to her husband Travis Felts, as a mother to her three daughters Kayla, Abby and Brooke, as a teacher to her students at Smithfield Middle School and as an overall supporter to the students at Franklin High School.

Kristin tragically passed away in a car accident amid a severe thunderstorm on the afternoon of March 5 in southern Isle of Wight County.

She was 50 years of age.

Kristin was married for 25 years to Travis Felts, who is prominent in the Franklin community for his longtime service as principal at FHS. When Kristin was not guiding her physical education students at SMS, she was cheering on and helping students at FHS in the course of supporting her husband’s work there.

Travis recently took time to put together some thoughts that would better acquaint people with who Kristin was.

“Kristin was a very supportive wife and mother,” he said. “She was the ‘glue’ for our family. In addition to teaching full time at Smithfield Middle School, she made sure my daughters were at all of their sports practices, dance rehearsals, church functions, part-time jobs and family events. 

“All of the students at Smithfield Middle School and Franklin High School were her adopted kids,” he continued. “She loved attending their games, plays, band concerts, running the concession stand at all home football games and ensuring all students at FHS had a winter coat through the Franklin Baptist Church missions ministry, of which she was an active member. 

“Kristin will be loved and remembered forever by her family and friends,” Travis said. “If she knew you, she loved you and not only that, she would care for you, advocate for you and fight for you.”

At a candlelight vigil held in Smithfield on Saturday, March 8, Travis said that on more than one occasion he had asked Kristin about trading her 45-minute daily commute to Smithfield for a teaching job closer to their home in Franklin, but every time she would give him the same answer: She loved Smithfield Middle School and wanted to stay.

Isle of Wight County Schools benefited greatly from her choice, and the school division let its deep appreciation for her be known even as it mourned her loss.

IWCS shared the following message on its Facebook page on March 6:

“It is with deep sorrow that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of Mrs. Felts, a beloved physical education teacher at Smithfield Middle School. For (28) years, she dedicated her life to shaping and inspiring thousands of students, leaving a lasting impact on our school community. Her kindness, passion and unwavering commitment to her students will never be forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband, children and all who knew and loved her. In this difficult time, we stand together as a school family, offering support and comfort to one another.”

Two Smithfield High School juniors — Adelyn Nixon and Jamyra Ridley — organized the candlelight vigil for Kristin that was held in the school parking lot on March 8. Both students had known Felts for around five years, dating back to when they were in her seventh grade physical education class.

Ridley recalled, now fondly with hindsight, how Felts used to get on her case about not wearing proper gym clothes to PE class. Several other of Felts’ current and former students also shared humorous anecdotes, despite the somber occasion.

That, too, was quintessentially Felts, who, according to recently retired SMS Assistant Principal Toni Brown, could find something to smile or laugh about in almost any situation.

“You couldn’t be down around her,” Brown said, recalling Felts’ infectious sense of humor.

“She always made us laugh,” Ridley said.

This was a key point made by Kristin’s eldest daughter Kayla as she shared some insights into who her mother was with The Tidewater News.

“My mom had a way of making everyone laugh no matter what room she was in,” Kayla said. “Her humor was her gift to the world, and it is something that I’ll always carry with me.”

Growing up, Kayla did not have to wonder if her mother loved and supported her.

“My favorite memory of her was when she would be the loudest person at all of my soccer games,” Kayla said. “She was my biggest fan and always called me her ‘Number 1.’ She always instilled in me the confidence to know that I can do anything I put my mind to.”

Kayla, who is 21, is a senior at Virginia Tech.

She said her mother’s love, loyalty and strength continue to guide her every day. 

“I will always carry a part of her with me, and her memory will forever be a source of comfort,” Kayla said.

Kristin’s younger daughters are twins, both 17 years old and juniors at FHS. Each of them offered memories that shed light on Kristin’s quality of character.

Abby said, “I remember in December 2012, my mom spent weeks planning the perfect surprise for me and my sisters to have a weekend of fun at Great Wolf Lodge, one of our favorite places. I remember the joy she had when she saw our reactions to the news. 

“I remember the times that she’d just simply come home from work after making a quick stop by a store to grab something she thought I liked,” Abby continued. “I remember all the times she’d come to my wrestling meets at the crack of dawn ready to scream me through my matches, even though I couldn’t hear her through my headgear. From Day One, when I told her I was interested in wrestling, I found her asking me, my coaches, other wrestling moms and teammates how wrestling worked or asking what was that move she just saw to better understand the sport so she was ready to support me the best way she could. And she did! 

“That’s the kind of person she was: A creative, smart, beautiful, great mom who was full of love for her family and friends,” Abby said. “She would do anything and everything to make us happy.”

Brooke said, “When we were younger, we always wanted a dog; however, our parents said it’s too much of a responsibility, but we didn’t give up, and eventually, they gave in, and we brought in Sophie Dot, our 8-year-old beagle. We all love Sophie, especially my mom. My mom quickly became inseparable from Sophie. When you saw my mom, you saw Sophie. 

“More recently, in 2023, Abby and I got our mom to get us our own cats to cuddle when we felt sad or anxious,” Brooke said. “If you told me that we would have our own cats 10 years ago, I’d say you’re crazy! My mom was not a cat person, but sure enough, she loved our cats the first day we took them home. 

“My mother always wanted us to be happy, even if that meant she’d have to be covered in dog/cat hair,” Brooke said. “She loved my sisters and I and her three fur babies.”

Love proved to be a defining quality of Kristin’s life, as she not only modeled the character trait but inspired it in others.

Toni Brown spoke to this when, of Kristin, she said, “To know her was to love her.”