Sandra Richardson Yarbrough

Dr. Sandra R. Yarbrough of Charlottesville passed away on Thursday, August 29th, with the love of her life and husband of 60 years, Nelson, by her side. Dr. Yarbrough was born in Chicago, Illinois to Ted and Margaret Richardson. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Ted Yarbrough of Fair Haven, New Jersey, and Kirsten Williams and her husband Jeff of Lake Barrington, Illinois; grandchildren Clark, Kirk, and Claudette Yarbrough, and Jay and Elizabeth Williams; her dear sister and best friend, Marilyn Meyers, and nephew Max Meyers of Tampa, Florida.

For almost 50 years, “Dr. Sandra and Dr. Nelson” ran one of the very few spouse-led dental practices in the country. They found great satisfaction and pride in caring for hundreds of families in their community and the deep friendships they developed along the way. While petite in stature, Sandra had an engaging and gregarious personality with a smile and laugh that could light up any room. Determined to the core, she did not take kindly to the word “No.” In 1959, when a boy dismissed the idea that girls knew anything about sports, Sandra decided to prove him wrong and became the first female sports editor at Chamberlain High School in Tampa, FL. She earned a pre-med degree from the University of Florida in just three years. In 1967, she became one of the first women to graduate from dental school at the Medical College of Virginia. At a time when few women were in such professional fields, Sandra's achievements were groundbreaking and paved the way for future generations.

Sandra was just as passionate and determined to serve her Charlottesville community, particularly in areas that supported women and families. She was a longstanding member of the Junior League and the First Presbyterian Church, led the founding of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority chapters at both the University of Virginia and Washington & Lee, helped launch the preschool program at St. Anne’s Belfield School, and was a compassionate volunteer and emergency care provider for women experiencing domestic violence.

Out of all her many accomplishments, Sandra was most proud of her role as a mother and grandmother. She loved her children and grandchildren fiercely and would go to the ends of the earth for all of them. She drove hours every day after work to sports games and theatre practices, stayed up late with flashcards to help her kids study, and as a grandma, would pack up at a moment's notice to help care for her grandchildren. Sandra also loved entertaining her family and friends. She often hosted large gatherings for holidays, reunions, bridal events, and baby showers. Friends and neighbors fondly remember the annual Mother-Daughter Holiday Tea Parties. Her generous hospitality made the Yarbrough home a welcoming place for everyone.

The foundation of Sandra’s life centered around her extraordinary marriage to Nelson. They met each other in the summer of 1962 at a University of Tampa physics class. From then on, they were partners in every sense of the word. At a time when dual-career couples were much less the norm, Nelson and Sandra seamlessly shared responsibilities both within the home and the office. It was not unusual for Sandra to start a Little League practice for Nelson, or Nelson to make dinner for their children. Their partnership and love for each other was never more evident than over the last few years, as they helped each other through the challenges of aging. Their love, respect, patience, and selflessness were truly remarkable and remain a lasting gift to their children and grandchildren.

Sandra was the heart and soul of the Yarbrough family. Her husband, children, and grandchildren were profoundly blessed to call her wife, mom, and grandma.

There will be a private service for the family this week, and a celebration of life will be planned for a later date.