Sharon Eldridge Sams

Sharon Elizabeth Eldridge Sams, born June 5, 1943, passed away peacefully on May 8, 2023. Sharon was a much beloved mother, grandmother, wife, sister, aunt, teacher, music director, and friend. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 54 years, Michael Sams, and is survived by their three children, Chris Sams and wife Kimberlee, Mary Beth Moody and husband Aaron, Martha Kelley Koenig and husband David, and her grandchildren, Michael Sams and David Sams, and Josie Koenig and Penny Koenig. She is also survived by her twin sisters, Dorrie Williams and Ginah Butler and her husband Paul, and many nieces and nephews from both sides of her big family. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Burt and Mildred Eldridge of Greensboro, NC, and her brother, Burt Stratton Eldridge, III.

Sharon was a public-school teacher in York County, Virginia for most of her professional career, with a bachelor's degree from Greensboro College and a master's degree in education from the College of William & Mary, Sharon taught special education/speech therapy, and later in her career was a kindergarten and second grade teacher. She was active in United Methodist churches her entire life and was the music director for Wellspring United Methodist Church, then became active in the music ministries at Williamsburg UMC, singing in the adult choir and playing in the handbell choir, and participating in United Methodist Women's Circles. She was a brilliant and accomplished woman with an endless amount of energy and dedication, from volunteering to lead Vacation Bible School programs, learning accounting in her spare time so that she could take a second job during tax season, all the while displaying a fierce and deep love for her family.

Since her husband’s passing, Sharon was a resident at Lakewood Retirement Community in Richmond, Virginia, where she was lovingly looked after in Memory Care. The family would like to thank the chaplains at Lakewood and the Memory Care team members who cared for her so well.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, May 14 at 2 PM at Williamsburg United Methodist Church, with a reception at the church following the service. She will be interred beside her husband in the church’s columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org. Online condolences may be shared at www.nelsenwilliamsburg.com.