Lyndee J Nelms passed away on March 19th 2025 at Advent Hospital in Florida.
She was born April 5th 1952 in Ohio, and was adopted as an infant by Harvey and Virginia Nelms. Harvey worked for the coal industry as a surveyor.
Virginia worked as a high school teacher. Into their home, first Lyndee, and later her younger brother Tom became the center of their lives. Their lives were enriched when Virginia’s father offered the young family his home in Harrisville Ohio. To make room for them Lyndee’s grandparents (Weir Griffith, and Dora Mitchell Griffith) gutted the stable, and built a modest home next door. Lyndee and Tom enjoyed their youth within this small town atmosphere. They both recounted tales of helping their grandfather in his garden and orchard. Lyndee did not escape household chores, enlisted by grandmother Dora to put up those same vegetables, berries, and fruits.
Family was important. Lyndee was surrounded by them. On the Nelms side of the clan were grandpa Harvey Nelms Sr. (a mine superintendent) and grandma Phoebe (a nurse) who lived in neighboring Cadiz Ohio. They had five children (Harvey Jr., George, Harriet, Anna, and Martha). Many of her treasured memories involved gatherings with them, and her cousins Bret, Evan, Charlotte, Janet, Harvey, Mark, Rupe, Karen and Clark. While Lyndee’s mother was an only child, they were well connected to the community, her maternal grandparents coming from large families. It seemed everyone was related by blood in one way or another.
We had hints of Lyndee’s future when at the age of twelve, she opened her first checking account. To this day she still has every check she ever wrote in her files. She later worked assisting the high school’s office secretary Adeline Bainbridge. She became one of her inspirations. Her Xmas list that year to Santa was headed by a Smith Corona electric typewriter. Upon graduation, Lyndee enrolled in a secretarial major first at Virginia Intermont College and later at Akron University.
She was recruited to Washington DC to work for the federal government for the Navy Department, in the Executive Office Building and later for the U.S. Synfuels Corporation. Her final stint as a secretary, was working for attorney Peter Kostick, the father of Jeff’s childhood best friend Jon. The skills Lyndee learned during her career served her well supporting the couple’s professional needs. They also served the needs of Jeff’s father Joseph – a doctor – doing medical billings for the office, and later taking on management of his real-estate properties.
During this period, Lyndee met the love of her life – Jeff Sabri. Working as a pharmacist, their paths crossed, when Lyndee took a second job (to make Xmas cash) as a drug clerk. The two of them spent the next 43 years together, only parted by her death. Initially they made their home in Arlington Virginia, but soon moved to their 150 year old home in Berryville Virginia. Having made the move, the couple occupied their time filling up every square foot with antiques and collectibles.
Upon Jeff’s retirement, the couple found their way to Weir Lake in Florida. They purchased their winter home on Bird Island, allowing a sanctuary for the two snow birds to enjoy the lake life. They were both avid members of the Ocala Sailing Club. Many thanks to the membership of the club who became their extended family. She also supported Jeff’s 30 year membership in the Ruritan Club of Clarke County, helping with the county fairs and other events on the grounds. She was a keen supporter of ARE, the local chapter responding to the Aids epidemic.
Lyndee was preceded in death by her grandparents, her father Harvey, her mother Virginia Griffith Nelms Reppart, and step father Wayne Reppart, and her brother Tom Nelms. She is survived by her husband Jeffrey Sabri, and her niece Tiffany Dietrich and Tiffany’s husband Ty, as well their sons Nick and Alex.
In lieu of flowers, one might consider supporting your local food bank. That was something that she made a point of doing every year. She never took for granted how lucky she was.