Dorothy Lee - Burnette Elam

Dorothy Lee Burnette Elam, 85, of Amelia, Va., passed away peacefully on June 21, 2025. Lee was born November 19, 1939, in Crewe, Virginia and raised in Amelia Court House, VA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James C. and Dorothy T. Burnette and her son, Carlton Nicholas Elam III. She is survived by her son, J. Burnette Elam (Mary), her sister Nancy Jones (Ed) of Nottoway, her sister Jo Cooper of Mill Valley, CA, four grandchildren, Jarret M. Elam (Elizabeth), Nicholas J. Elam (Noel), Lindsey E. Elam and James C. Elam; five delightful great-grandchildren, Cael, Jack, Caroline, Theodore, Christopher and Penelope Elam, and many nieces and nephews.

Lee graduated from Longwood University with a double major in Art and English in just 3 years. Lee's art talent was phenomenal. Her college professors told her that they would buy anything she painted sight unseen. After college, Lee taught 3rd grade for just a year, then focused full time on being the best mother for her two boys. Lee was a substitute teacher and worked at a marketing firm selling pet products, but gardening and training dogs were her passion. Lee completed the Master Gardener class in Powhatan and shared her love and knowledge of gardening with so many.

Lee also specialized in training owners to properly train their labrador retrievers for field trials. Lee's core group of Tidewater Retriever trainers were a great source of pride for her as their retrievers competed across Virginia and the nation. Lee was a devoted Washington Nationals baseball fan through and through. Lee could also be found at most of her grandchildren's soccer, softball and baseball games as their biggest fan.

Special thanks to April Easter and Susan Dodson for taking such good care of Mom during the twilight of her remarkable life.

The family will receive friends 6 pm to 8 pm Tuesday, June 24th, at Bennett & Barden Funeral Home in Powhatan at 3215 Anderson Hwy. Powhatan VA. 23139. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, June 25th at 10 AM with a graveside service at 12 PM at Amelia Presbyterian Church Cemetary at 16401 Dunn Rd, Amelia Court House VA 23002. A lunch reception in Lee's honor will immediately follow at Hidden Witt Brewing Company at 21110 Hull Street Rd, Moseley VA 23120.