Virginia "Ginger" Irene Hill Sanford

In Loving Memory of Virginia "Ginger" Irene Hill Sanford

Virginia "Ginger" Irene Hill Sanford, aged 75, passed away on September 18, 2023, in her home in Gallatin, TN.

Ginger was born on January 19, 1948, to parents, Edward E. Hill and Elizabeth B. Hill. The youngest of four children and beloved sister to her siblings.

Upon graduation from Stratford High School in 1966 she continued her education at Peabody College in Nashville with the intent of becoming a special education teacher. She later enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University after deciding she could better serve her community as a nurse.

While at Middle Tennessee State University Ginger met her husband, Thomas “Tom” R. Sanford (1944-2023). They were married in 1970 and together they embarked on a 53-year marriage, which was filled with devotion, strength, and companionship.

After several years as a Registered Nurse, she devoted her career to helping improve the lives of people with diabetes through her work as a Diabetes Care Educator and a Drug Study Coordinator, working on research trials in lipid, diabetes, and hypertension studies at the Medical University of South Carolina, the Veterans Affairs system, and Meharry Medical College.

Outside of her professional life she had many interests. She was a caretaker of all things whether people, animals, or plants. Possessing a great deal of empathy, she was always able to see the best in people and animals. She loved dogs. To her, a house was not a home without one. She had a talent for painting which she mainly poured into creating gifts and decorations for her favorite holiday-Christmas.

Ginger connected with her community as an active member of the Red Hat Society and the Daughters of the American Revolution, where she forged enduring connections with other members. Among her many accolades, Ginger received the DAR award for Excellence in Nursing. She also enjoyed studying genealogy, a passion that she shared with her sisters.

Virginia Irene Hill Sanford's legacy of dedication, love, and compassion will be forever cherished. She is preceded in death by her parents and older brother, Edward E. Hill III. She is survived by her children Tara Sanford Kleinpeter (Shawn) and Thomas “T.R.” Reynolds Sanford II (Gwen); grandchildren Elizabeth Sanford, Charlotte Sanford, Emmi Kleinpeter, and Ava Kleinpeter; sisters Grace Hawkins (Ed) and Mary Ann McMahan (Jack); brother-in-law

Randy Means; several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews; and her devoted dog “Clancy.”

The family will receive friends on Saturday, October 28, 2023 from 12:30 pm -1:30 pm at the Harpeth Hills Funeral Home Pavilion in Nashville, TN where a celebration of Ginger's life will be conducted at 1:30 pm.