William Bridgeforth

William Samuel (Sammy) Bridgeforth, 84, of Waynesboro, passed away Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at his home. He was born January 23, 1941 in Richmond, Virginia, son of the late Francis William Bridgeforth and the late Mary Frances Baker Bridgeforth.

Sammy was a 1959 graduate of Waynesboro High School and served in the U.S. Air Force attaining the rank of Airman First Class (E4). He retired from GE in 2001 as a Regional Manager of Satellite Communications.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Fineren of Alabama and his brother, Franklin Haven Bridgeforth of Virginia.

Survivors include his spouse of 28 years, Vallerie Harvey Bridgeforth; his daughters, Barbara Galgano and her husband, Patrick Galgano of Maryland and Joann Reilly and her husband, Brian Reilly of Maryland; his four stepdaughters, Jennifer Schaefer of Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain, Monica Lafleur of Maryland, Erica Halasz of Virginia and Kristine Anastasi of Florida; his nine grandchildren, Alexander Schaefer, Andrea Schaefer, Vincent Anastasi, Isabelle Anastasi, Dominic Galgano, Isabella Galgano, Liam Reilly, Erin Reilly and Meghan Reilly, and Sammy’s sister and brother, Ann Shirley and Douglas DeShazor Bridgeforth of Virginia.

At Sammy’s request there will be no services.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contribution be made to the Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center, 1001 Mt. Torrey Rd., Lyndhurst, VA 22952, the Augusta Regional SPCA, 33 Archery Lane, Staunton, VA 24401, The Tunnels and Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island NY 10306 or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or online: www.stjude.org/memorial.

Share memories and condolences at www.charltonandgroomefuneralhome.com.

The family is being served by the Charlton and Groome Funeral Home of Fishersville.