Sandra Benefiel Winfrey Putze

1951 - 2023

WINFREY PUTZE, Sandra Benefiel, 71, of Chester, Va., passed away on Sunday, March 5, 2023, at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital in Midlothian, Va. She was born on April 15, 1951, in Aberdeen, Miss., 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, Va. and continued to work in the insurance industry. In 1990, she moved to Richmond, Va. 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 to 2003, 2007 to 2008, 2013 to 2016, VAMA Secretary in 2009, VAMA Vice President in 2010 and VAMA President 2011 to 2012. She was a VAMA Legislative Chair from 2002 to 2015 and a VAMA Legislative Committee Member from 2016 to 2020. She served as a VAMA/CVAA Board Member in 2000 and 2014 as well as a VAMA/CVAA Advisory Committee Member from 2018 to 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, Miss., John Bowen (Regina) of Chesterfield, Va., Christie Kirkpatrick (John) of Aberdeen, Miss.; and one stepson, 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, Miss., and Jon Ringquist of Los Angeles, Calif.; 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, Miss. 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 13 at Morrissett Funeral Home, Chesterfield, Va. from 4 to 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 P.O. Box 1088, Chesterfield, Va. 23832 or a drop box will be available at the Morrissett Funeral Home on Monday. Pallbearers will be Blake Bowen, Jake Kirkpatrick, Jon Ringquist, Bryson Bowen, Matt Holloway and Chad Holloway. Sandra will be laid to rest on Saturday, March 18 in her hometown of Hamilton, Miss.