James L. Sandefur III

James Lindley Sandefur, III, passed away on October 30, 2025, at the Winchester Medical Center in Winchester, VA, with his wife by his side.
He was born in 1944 in North Carolina in his grandparents' sharecropper shack. As a boy he enjoyed camping near Virginia Beach, where he developed his lifelong love of the ocean. In high school he ran track and placed guitar, sparking his passion for music. After graduating from Craddock High School, he enlisted in the U.S Air Force, which stationed him in Salina, KS, where he met the love of his life, Jane. The couple married in 1965. Following Airman First Class Sandefur's honorable discharge in 1967, they moved to Portsmouth, VA, where he worked at Surry Nuclear Plant as an electrician.
During this time Jim felt the calling by God into the ministry. He became a song leader at Faith Baptist Church; eventually moving the family to Lynchburg to attend Liberty Baptist College (now Liberty University) where he became the senior class president of the first graduating class in 1975. After graduation, Jim was youth leader at several churches: Open Door Baptist Church, Shenandoah Valley Baptist Church, Rosedale Baptist Church, and started Open Bible Baptist Church as a pastor and youth leader. During this time, while Jim was youth leader, he found himself being drawn to help a youth that was in a tragic situation. This calling to help juvenile offenders became so strong that he and Jane started the New Life Youth Ranch.
For the last 20 years of his professional career, Jim worked as an industrial electrician and trainer at Berryville Graphics. In his 60s he also became an active member of Rolling Thunder. Throughout his life, Jim was not only a gifted preacher and youth leader, but he was also a kind, friendly, fun loving man who gave his life to Jesus to serve wherever he was led.
He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Jane; his three sons, Jimmy, Jason, and Joe; daughter JaLynda; and grandchildren Kaedin, Logan, Thatcher, Bristol, Ezra, Luke, Adam and Nikolus; and his sister Debbie. As per Jim's request, a private funeral took place on November 7th, 2025, with military honors.
Memorial contributions may be made in memory of James to help defray funeral costs by clicking on the "Donate Now" tab under his tribute wall or by sending a contribution to the Sandefur Family, C/O Giffin Funeral Home & Crematory, PO Box 100, Capon Bridge, WV 26711
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James, please visit our floral store. If you would like to make a donation in memory of James L. Sandefur, III, please visit the Tribute Fund.