Nancy Jo Sefton Eldridge

1943 - 2025

Nancy Jo Reitz Sefton Eldridge, 82, of Berryville, VA, died peacefully on March 28, 2025, surrounded by family at Blue Ridge Hospice In Patient Care Center, Winchester, Virginia.

Born March 13, 1943, in Hammond, Indiana, she was the daughter of the late Earl Reitz and Marie Schwarz Reitz. She was raised in a loving home with siblings Barbara Reitz Graegin (Paul), Schererville, IN, Martin Reitz (Diane), Crown Point, IN, and Terese Reitz Milligan (Chris), Scottsdale, AZ. The older siblings could be found on occasion dividing and counting bird seed at the kitchen table for their father's business MGR Feed. She enjoyed years of summer camp, as a camper and counselor, at Camp Watervliet, where she excelled at archery, canoeing and horseback riding. Nancy graduated from Hammond High School in 1961, where she was a cheerleader. Her high school friends remained loyal and faithful throughout life, regularly getting together for reunions. Nancy attended Indiana State College where she majored in art, was a member of Chi Omega sorority, won the Miss Indiana State College Pageant and later participated in the Miss Indiana Pageant, memories of which brought her great joy.

While in college she met her husband, the late Graham Sefton. They married in 1964 and moved to Maryland where Graham joined the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. The couple welcomed sons Scott Alan Sefton and Christopher Sefton, moving the family to Waldorf, MD, where the boys were raised. All three Sefton men joined the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department and were life members.

Nancy was elected three times to the Charles County (MD) Board of Education and served from 1974-1986. She was voted vice chair and chair by her peers. Additionally, she was the president of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education and chairman of the Northeast Region, National School Boards of Education. In her role as chair, Nancy signed the high school diplomas of her sons and one daughter-in-law and presented them at graduation. In 1986 she was elected to the three-member Charles County (MD) Board of Commissioners, the sole female and Republican, and again for a four-year term in 1990, when the board expanded to five members. That same year Nancy was widowed. Nancy served as Commissioners' vice president under her friend and colleague Thomas "Mac" Middleton. As a commissioner she chaired the Board of Public Safety. She was a supporter of teachers, police officers, firefighters and emergency medical workers, fighting tirelessly to improve education and public safety.

She left public office in 1993 to help take care of her ailing parents in Indiana. There, she reconnected with her high school sweetheart, the late Gary Eldridge. The two eventually moved to Hilton Head, SC, and wed. They were active members of Sea Pines Country Club. Nancy was a member of the country club board of directors, an avid golfer, a regular at duplicate bridge, a fan of trivia night and a member of the women's club. Additionally, she served on the Sea Pines Public Safety Board and was very proud of her work to get AEDs in all Sea Pines security vehicles.

She enjoyed travelling, trips on Crystal Cruises, yearly pampering at the Golden Door and visits from her children and grandchildren, always providing everything needed for the perfect vacation, down to the last detail, to make everyone welcome and comfortable. She attended the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links every year and never met a dog she didn't love. Upon the death of her second husband, she moved from Hilton Head to Berryville, VA, in 2024, making her home with her son and daughter-in-law.

She is predeceased by her parents, two husbands and brother-in-law Paul Graegin. She is survived by sons Scott Sefton (Kerry) of Denton, MD, and Chris Sefton (Stacy) of Berryville, VA; grandchildren Alex Sefton of Washington, NC, Rachel Sefton Hammer (Jon) of Lutherville Timonium, MD, and Della Sefton of Denton, MD; her sisters and brother; nieces and nephews; her DOHHS ladies; and many friends in Southern Maryland and Hilton Head, SC.

A private family memorial will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork Street, Winchester, VA 22601, DCFD Emerald Society Pipes & Drums, 3002 12th St. N.E., Suite 6, Washington, D.C. 20017 or any animal shelter.

To view the obituary or send condolences online, please visit www.endersandshirley.com.