The Shadow
Sarah Bayne Sams
Sarah Bayne Sams, age 76, of Mount Jackson, formerly of Covington, died peacefully Sunday, November 1, 2026, in Woodstock, VA. She was the wife of the late Michael Grey Sams who preceded her in death in 2025.
Sarah was born November 10, 1949, in Covington, the daughter of the late Claude Willis Bayne and Madge Hughes Bayne. Sarah dedicated her life to her career as an elementary school teacher for 35 years. She shared a love of learning and her Spanish skills with students in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Sarah retired from Ashby Lee Elementary in Mount Jackson in 2010.
In addition to being a strong advocate for childhood education, Sarah was a lover of animals of all species and often turned to nature as inspiration in writing prose and poetry.
Sarah is survived by her sisters, Deborah Bayne Russell of Charlotte, North Carolina, Rebecca Bayne Roelfson of Mesa, AZ, in-laws, Steve and Robin Sams of Covington, Virginia as well as nieces Mageara Cameron-Spell of Burbank, California, Emmalea Johnston of Johnson City, Tennessee, and two
nephews, David Russell of Charlotte, North Carolina and Travis Long of Wilsall, Montana.
In addition to her parents and her husband, Sarah was preceded in death by her son, Christopher Michael Sams, her twin sister, Sandra Bayne Griffith, and niece, Jamie Russell Brower.
A private family memorial service will be conducted at a later date.
The family suggests that memorial tributes take the form of contributions to your local animal shelter or rescue or: The Humane Society of Shenandoah County, PO Box 173, Woodstock, VA 22664
Arrangements are being handled by Loving Funeral Home; to view Sarah’s memorial tribute page, please visit www.lovingfuneralhome1913.com.
