Sandra Ann Winters

Sandra Ann Winters, 79, of Winston Salem, North Carolina, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on October 14, 2026, at the WakeMed Hospital Cary (North Carolina) after a brief illness. She was born on October 16, 1946, in Durham, North Carolina, to the late Lula Mae Winters and William Neubern Winters.

Sandra was a passionate, beloved educator, having earned her undergraduate degree at Catawba College in 1969 and her Master of Arts degree at the University of Louisville in 1974. She began her career teaching high school students, eventually becoming a professor of Irish/English literature at Guilford College, retiring in 2011.

Sandra and her husband moved to Floyd, Virginia, in 1990 where they established the equestrian center Simple Springs Farm that became a horse boarding facility offering training in equestrian sports. Drawing upon her love of poetry and literature, she also conducted retreats for poets and writers at Simple Springs Farm.

A devoted member of the Religious Society of Friends (“Quakers”), Sandra cofounded Floyd Friends Meeting and was instrumental in facilitating the construction of a new meeting house in Floyd. Floyd Friends Meeting became and remains a dynamic member of Baltimore Yearly Meeting.

Sandra has long been a poet at heart, launching her poetry career in 2011 when she won the Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition in Ireland. Sandra and her husband had purchased a small cottage in Ireland in 2005 that contributed a unique dimension to her poetry. Salmon Poetry in County Clare, Ireland, published her volume The Place Where I Left You in 2014. The editor of the Cork Literary Review noted “A natural empathy for the ‘individual journey’ is leavened by a superb mastery of her chosen craft, what Joyce calls ‘a scrupulous meanness.’ A most welcome and timely addition to the canon of Irish poetry.” Salmon Press published her second volume Do Not Touch in 2020.

Sandra’s greatest inspiration was her love and devotion to her family. She is survived by her husband Stephen Beese, her son Steven Rentz, a grandson Gavin, a sister Sybil Bentley and a brother Terry Winters. Sandra will be fondly remembered by nephews, a niece, grandnephews, grandniece and friends.

At Sandra’s request there will be no funeral. Cremation has taken place and a gathering to celebrate her life by friends and family will be announced soon.

In lieu of gifts or flowers, those who wish may make a memorial donation to The Shepherd’s Center of Greater Winston-Salem (https://www.shepherdscenter.org/) or to a charity of one’s choice in honor of Sandra Ann Winters.

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