Margaret Sandifer Stephens

Margaret was born on her father’s birthday, January 8, 1946, in Northampton, Massachusetts, to the late Irma Parrow Sandifer and F. Adolph “Sandy” Sandifer. When she was a young child, her family relocated to Norfolk, VA, where she was raised with her six siblings. She graduated from Norview High School and married the love of her life, Richard, and they quickly started their own family, moving to Virginia Beach shortly thereafter. Besides working full-time in the home, she drove a school bus for the Virginia Beach Public School System for over 30 years. She attended Bayside Baptist Church, where she remained a faithful and dedicated member for over 50 years. She enjoyed membership in the United Daughters of the Confederacy, where she served in numerous official roles, including president of her chapter.

She was immensely creative and artistic, and had the gift of improving the appearance of anything with just the slightest touch or rearrangement. She was unselfish, industrious, and always put her family’s needs before her own. She loved wholeheartedly, and for those she loved, she would turn Heaven and Earth upside-down to help them. She was very opinionated and wouldn’t hesitate to assert her beliefs. She was charmingly gullible at times, required an explanation of the punchline of every risqué joke, and could never recite an idiom without confusing the words — a constant source of entertainment for those around her. She was blessed with many wonderful friends, and she truly cherished them all. She loved to travel and considered herself fortunate to fulfill many of her dreams. Hers was a life well-lived, well-loved, and blessed.

She was predeceased by her devoted husband of 56 years, Richard Lee Stephens, and three siblings, Sandra Jones (Raymond), Patricia Sandifer, and Paul Sandifer. She leaves behind a heartbroken family, including two children, Richard Lee Jr. and his wife, Christi, and Dr. Lisa Stephens Garriott and her husband, Richard; four adored grandchildren, Lee Stephens (Keisha), Greg Stephens, Amber Stephens Noegel (Tylor) and Rachel Garriott, and three stepgrandchildren, Madison, Meredith and Annellise Garriott; four great-grandchildren, Denny Buckner , Bryan and Tre Stephens, and Emma McGrath. Also surviving are two brothers, Donald Tessier of Nashville, TN, and Wayne Sandifer (Ruth) of Seaford, VA, a sister, Donna Sandifer of Norfolk, VA, two brothers-in-law, Burton Stephens (Jane) and Clyde Stephens (Barbara), of Chesapeake, VA, and a sister-in-law, Beverly Thompson, of Newport, NC. She was also loved by numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Cograndparents Thad and Francie Brake and Dick and Grace Marie Garriott were held in the highest esteem.

The family would like to thank Lynne, Kurt, Katrina, Audrey and all the wonderful caregivers at Sunset Care Homes, as well as the nurses from Wings Over Virginia Hospice. Thank you for surrounding our mother with love and dignity throughout her illness.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bayside Baptist Church Building Fund or the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration.

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.’” —- Proverbs 31:28-29.