Amanda Suzanne Porterfield
There is a light that never goes out, and it shone through Amanda Suzanne Porterfield. An artist, poet, lover of nature, and fiercely loyal friend, she bathed those close to her in her glow. She loved music, good books, puzzles, and making things with her hands.
Amanda grew up on the Porterfield family farm in Newport, Virginia, exploring and playing in the forests and fields. She graduated from Giles High School in 1999 near the top of her class as a National Merit Commended Scholar, but made sure to mention her status as a “Poet, Blacksburg Townie, Avid Reader, (and) Radiohead Supporter” in her entry in the yearbook’s Senior Directory.
She was wicked smart and possessed the backbone to follow her dreams and desires. When a teacher told her, “Your fantasies are unlikely, but beautiful,” and “your fanatical behavior is refreshing,” she wrote those words on her ceiling where she could see them before she went to sleep.
She earned her B.A. in Fine Arts, concentrating on film and photography, from Ithaca College in 2003. Amanda took photos and made videos throughout her life that demonstrated a unique perspective. If you received one of her handmade cards for any occasion, you were a lucky duck.
Amanda worked in an administrative role at Virginia Tech for a short time after graduating, making many friends in Blacksburg. She then followed her heart to St. Louis, where she met and married her husband, Dan, in 2009. There she worked in the renowned Criminology Department at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She and Dan had many happy years together in St. Louis, exploring the city and its environs, and she was a loving stepmother to Dan’s son, Hadrian. She adored the city and never grew tired of or let down by attractions like the City Museum or the Gateway Arch.
She and Dan moved back to Newport in 2018. Amanda worked in an administrative role at Virginia Tech’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and enjoyed life in her “little house in the country,” where she was surrounded by family and friends. She cared for her pets, helped her mother on the farm, rescued opossums, and embraced the ridges and hollers.
Amanda was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. She beat it that time, but it came back in 2019. She fought it with grace and fury in equal parts. She was a roman candle. Remember her for her many sparks.
Amanda is preceded in death by her beloved father, Cecil Porterfield, and an infant sister.
She is survived by her mother, Jean Porterfield; her husband, Dan Berger; brother Jason Porterfield (Corona Brezina); stepson, Hadrian Taylor; nephew, Nathaniel Porterfield, whom she adored and insisted on calling “Baby Earl,” and her cousins, aunts, and uncle.
The family will receive friends at a time of visitation on Saturday, December 28, 2024 from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM in Kendall Funeral Home. A funeral service will be conducted on Saturday, December 28, 2024 at 2:00 PM in Kendall Funeral Home with Pastor Stuart Davis officiating. Funeral Services will conclude at the Porterfield Family Farm where she will be laid to rest. A guestbook is available to send condolences to the family by visiting www.kendallfuneralhome.com. The staff of Kendall Funeral Home are honored to serve the Porterfield family.
