During the early morning hours of October 12, 2026, God sent an Angel to 175 Mill Creek Ln. That Angel whispered in the ear of Donnie, “Come with me. Your work on Earth is done. Take your rest. No need for your boots nor your hats. I have a set of wings for you.”

On Wednesday May 16, 1956, H.B. Reese, the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, died of a heart attack. Julia Verbena Lee Sandidge and Russell Eugene Sandidge, welcomed their 10th of 13 children into the world, Donnie Rayfield “Bic Dawg”.

Bic Dawg was preceded in death, by his parents, 4 brothers, Henry “High Pocket”, Richard “Pat”, Alec and Marshall “Big Red”, one sister Gloria Jean Sandidge Sales, three brother in-laws, Elmer Paige Sales, Hargie Sales and Jesse M. McCoy and his loving partner Ernestine Glendale Potter.

Bic Dawg was well known in the community. He graduated from Amherst High School in 1976 after being held back early in grade school, due to him and Bill Strange were talking too much in class. He was held back again in eighth grade after an accident in the woods while working to earn extra money for himself. The injury kept him from attending school, and he was especially grateful to his brother-in-law Paige, who took him to the hospital and helped save his leg.

While attending Amherst County High School, Bic Dawg excelled in football, basketball, and track, earning several titles. Years later, his great-nephew Caleb surpassed one of his track records. Proudly smiling when he heard the news, Bic Dawg said, “That boy might be something.” After graduating, he attended Longwood College in Farmville, Virginia, but soon decided college was not for him and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After serving his country, he returned home to Amherst County. A keen observer, Bic Dawg learned by listening and watching. Over the years, he held many jobs, including roller rink attendant, over-the-road truck driver, horse trainer, production worker, construction worker, carpenter and musical entertainer, before starting his own business as an independent contractor. Anyone who worked with him or hired him likely has a story to tell. He took pride in his work and had a distinctive way of getting things done. Bic Dawg and Worth Proffitt also formed the blues and acoustic duo Proffitt and Sandidge, performing throughout Virginia and in several other states. One engagement took them to Washington, D.C., during President Obama’s election. It became one of Bic Dawg’s proudest moments, made even more special because his brother Pat traveled with him and witnessed it.

He loved sports, especially football, and his favorite team was always the winning one. Bic Dawg was a self-taught musician who could play nearly any instrument he picked up, particularly the harmonica, piano, and acoustic guitar. He also loved animals, especially his beloved horse, CoCo, whom only he could truly ride. CoCo was no ordinary horse. He responded to voice commands and reins, but anyone who squeezed or kicked his sides risked being kicked off. According to Bic Dawg, his hunting dogs were the best trained in the area. The same dogs hunted rabbits, deer, raccoons, and turkeys. He often said, “You have to tell a dog what to hunt, and it will hunt what you tell it. You need to know what you’re doing when you train them.”

His proudest accomplishment was being a dad and Papa. He loved family, being a great son, brother, uncle, cousin, friend to all he came in contact. To know him was to love him. Survived by his daughter Shanna, and the apples of his eye, his grandchildren, Jayda (Punk), Nathaniel (Little Joker), Rayana and Shyheim. He is also survived by five sisters, Jessie Canada, Julia Minnis, Hazel Charlton (Terry), Phyllis Sandidge and Victoria Morris, two brothers, Mitchell (Mary) and Gregory (Christy) Sandidge, three sisters-in-law, Fannie Sandidge, Lindell Sandidge and Trina Sandidge; a host of nieces, nephews, friends and loved ones including: Sonya S Braxton (Sharron), Danteas Braxton and Shakiah Braxton.

A funeral service will be held on Sunday, October 18, 2026 at New Jerusalem Baptist Church of Amherst at 3:00 P.M. Interment will follow in the Smith - Sandidge family cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday, October 17, 2026 at Tharp Funeral Home Madison Heights Chapel between the hours of 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.

Tharp Funeral Home, Madison Heights, is serving the family.