Obituary

Sandra Benefiel Winfrey Putze, 71, of Chester, Virginia passed away on Sunday, March 5, 2023, at Bon Secour St. Francis Hospital in Midlothian, Virginia.

She was born on April 15, 1951, in Aberdeen, Mississippi to Edward and Vivian Benefiel. Sandra graduated from Hamilton High School in 1969.

Sandra was self-employed for many years in the oil and gas and insurance industries. In 1987, she relocated to Blacksburg, Virginia and continued to work in the insurance industry. In 1990, she moved to Richmond, Virginia and started a very successful career in real estate property management that would last over 30 years with Bernstein Enterprises.

Sandra was very passionate about her involvement with VAMA (Virginia Apartment Management Association) serving as a board member in 2002-2003, 2007-2008, 2013-2016, VAMA Secretary in 2009, VAMA Vice-President in 2010, and VAMA President 2011-2012. She was a VAMA Legislative Chair from 2002-2015 and a VAMA Legislative Committee Member from 2016-2020. She served as a VAMA/CVAA Board Member in 2000 and 2014 as well as a VAMA/CVAA Advisory Committee Member from 2018-2020. Sandra was honored with the 2008 VAMA Above and Beyond Award, 2011 Gloria D. Jacobs Member of the Year Award and 2022 Rammy’s CVAA Owner-Manager Member of the Year Award. She was named Honorary Emeritus Member of Legislative Committee in 2021.

Sandra enjoyed traveling but she always looked forward to going back home to visit with her family in Mississippi. She also loved to shop and treat herself to spa days whenever possible. Sandra was very loving and hardworking, and she was looking forward to retirement in the months to come.

She met the love of her life, Brian Putze, in 1995, and they were married on June 12, 1999.

In addition to her husband, she leaves to mourn her passing, her three children: Kandy Ringquist (Paul Petach) of Oxford, MS, John Bowen (Regina) of Chesterfield, VA, Christie Kirkpatrick (John) of Aberdeen, MS and one step-son Preston Winfrey of Richmond, VA; six grandchildren: Blake Bowen (Aliyah), Bryson Bowen, and Kayla Bowen all of Chesterfield, VA, Jake Kirkpatrick and Madison Kirkpatrick of Aberdeen, MS, and Jon Ringquist of Los Angeles, CA; one great-grandchild, Layla Mae Gele of Richmond, VA; her sister, Patricia Holloway (Danny), two nephews Matt Holloway (Heather), Chad Holloway (Katy) and a great-nephew, Carter Holloway all of Hamilton, MS.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Vivian Benefiel, grandparents Joe and Jettie Berry and Marion and Louie Benefiel, and numerous aunts and uncles.

Visitation will be on Monday, March 13th at Morrissett Funeral Home, Chesterfield, Virginia from 4-7 p.m. with a Celebration of Life starting at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the “Sandra Winfrey Advocacy Scholarship” and be mailed to PO Box 1088, Chesterfield, VA 23832 or a drop box will be available at the Morrissett Funeral Home on Monday.

Pall bearers will be Blake Bowen, Jake Kirkpatrick, Jon Ringquist, Bryson Bowen, Matt Holloway and Chad Holloway.

Sandra will be laid to rest on Saturday, March 18th in her hometown of Hamilton, MS.