Emily Lorraine Dyer

It is with profound sadness, but also with immense gratitude for her life, that we announce the passing of Emily Lorraine (Wells) Dyer, who entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior on September 14, 2026, at Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia, surrounded by the love of her family and friends. She was 44 years old.

Born on June 15, 1982, in Lexington, Kentucky, Emily lived a life marked by compassion, service, faith, joy, and unwavering devotion to those she loved. To know Emily was to know someone who always showed up. Whether you needed encouragement, a listening ear, a helping hand, or simply someone to make you laugh, Emily was there. She left an impression everywhere she went and leaves behind a legacy that will continue to touch lives for generations.

Family

Above all else, Emily loved her family. She is survived by her beloved husband, Travis Dyer, and their cherished children, Lily Dyer (7) and Jaxson Dyer (5), who were the greatest joys of her life.

She is also survived by her mother, Jill (Wells) TerBeest and stepfather, Jim TerBeest; her sister, Elly (Wells) Boyd and brother-in-law, Michael Boyd; her twin brother, Daniel-Taylor Wells and sister-in-law, Becca Wells; her brother, Enelio Moreno and sister-in-law, Heather Moreno; stepsister Julia & Drew Koch; stepbrother, James & Katherine TerBeest; her father-in-law, Wayne Dyer; her mother-in-law, Robin (Cubbage) Dyer; and her sister-in-law, Leighann Raines (Fletcher); and grandparents-in-law, Burgess & Peggy Cubbage.

Emily was also blessed with many treasured nieces and nephews, including Savannah Boyd, Faith Boyd, Bailey Boyd, Charlotte Boyd, Emma Wells, Will Wells, Brianne Raines, Makayla Ryder (Chase), Bryson Raines, Annaka King (Caleb), Court Raines, Jared Koch, Lucy TerBeest, Malachi Moreno, Michael Moreno (Jade), Sophia Guichard and Giona Guichard.

She is further survived by her aunts and uncles, Roxana (Blevins) and Asa Overall, David & Traci Wells, David & Tracy Hart, Timmy & Tammy Dyer, and Christopher & Christine Cubbage; as well as many beloved cousins, extended family members, and dear friends whom she considered family.

Emily was preceded in death by her father, William "Bill" Dean Wells, as well as her grandparents and several beloved aunts and uncles.

Emily was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, wife, and mother. Family was never an obligation to her. It was a calling and a privilege. She was the planner, organizer, and memory-maker behind countless family traditions. She coordinated bi-annual family vacations that brought everyone together and faithfully created the annual family calendar publication, preserving treasured moments and milestones for generations to come.

No matter how busy her professional life became, Emily always made time for the people she loved. Her family knew they could count on her presence, her encouragement, and her ability to turn even ordinary moments into treasured memories.

Her Career and Calling

Emily's professional accomplishments were remarkable, but what made her exceptional was the heart behind them.

After beginning her education at the University of Kentucky, Emily later transferred to Murray State University, where she proudly joined Alpha Omicron Pi, becoming not only a sister by blood to Elly but also a sorority sister. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2007 and began what would become a distinguished 19-year career at Martha Jefferson Hospital. Starting as a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Resident, she continued her service as a Clinical Pharmacist and ultimately became a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Emergency Medicine at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital.

Emily held board certifications in pharmacotherapy and emergency medicine pharmacy and became a respected leader in Critical Care and Emergency Medicine. Throughout her career, she dedicated herself to mentoring pharmacy students, residents, and future healthcare professionals. She also shared her knowledge through teaching opportunities, including serving as an adjunct instructor in pharmacology for students at Mary Baldwin University.

Her colleagues knew her as an exceptional clinician, mentor, advocate, and friend. She shared countless laughs, inside jokes, and moments of camaraderie, but beneath her warmth was an unwavering dedication to patient care. Emily advocated for policies and practices that improved outcomes for patients and elevated the standards of care throughout the hospital.

While many will never know the number of lives she touched, her family takes comfort knowing that Emily likely saved countless lives. She responded whenever she was needed, whether through her clinical expertise, life-saving medications, chest compressions, emergency interventions, or even performing the Heimlich maneuver. She never hesitated to step forward in a moment of need.

Her career never defined who she was. Rather, she defined her profession through her compassion, excellence, and service. In 2026, Emily received two of the highest honors of her career: the Sentara President's Award and the Preceptor of the Year Award, recognizing both her professional excellence and her extraordinary impact on those she mentored.

When reflecting on receiving the President's Award, Emily wrote:

"What I found there was more than a job. I found a family. This work quickly became not just a career, but a calling."

Those words capture the spirit in which she lived and served.

Faith and Spiritual Life

Emily's faith became one of the defining pillars of her life. In recent years, she felt called to renew and deepen her relationship with Jesus Christ. Through prayer, worship, and service, she embraced that calling wholeheartedly.

As a faithful member of Mountain View Chapel in Madison, Virginia, Emily sang in the worship choir, participated in women's ministries, served on prayer teams, and encouraged others in their faith journeys.

Even amid uncertainty and suffering, Emily's trust in God remained steadfast. One of the greatest blessings she experienced during her final months was witnessing her daughter Lily's baptism, a moment that brought Emily immeasurable joy and peace. Her faith did not remove hardship from her journey, but it provided strength, hope, and purpose through every step of it.

A Life Filled with Joy and Friendship

Emily had a gift for turning ordinary experiences into unforgettable adventures. She loved planning gatherings, vacations, celebrations, outings, and events. Friends and family often laughed that conventions, meetings, and routine trips somehow became memorable experiences whenever Emily was involved.

She brought people together naturally and intentionally. Her friendships spanned decades, schools, churches, workplaces, communities, and states. The countless photos, stories, and memories shared in recent months have revealed just how many lives she touched.

Whether through laughter, encouragement, hospitality, or simple acts of kindness, Emily made people feel valued and loved. The trail of friendships she leaves behind is long and beautiful, and each one tells a story of her remarkable ability to connect with others.

Her Courageous Battle

On July 2, 2026, what had seemed like a normal season of life changed dramatically when a CT scan revealed metastatic melanoma. Emily faced the diagnosis with incredible courage, determination, and faith. She fought fiercely for more time with her family, especially her precious children, whom she adored beyond measure. She embraced every treatment opportunity and approached each day with hope and resilience.

Though the progression of the disease moved far more quickly than anyone expected, Emily never lost her grace, her humor, her concern for others, or her trust in God. While those who loved her desperately wished for more time, we find comfort knowing that her suffering has ended and that she is now fully restored in the presence of Christ.

A Heartfelt Thank You

The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the extraordinary community that surrounded Emily throughout her illness.

Friends, family members, church communities, coworkers, neighbors, healthcare professionals, and countless individuals near and far provided unwavering support through meal trains, prayer chains, visits, childcare assistance, donations, messages of encouragement, and hours spent faithfully sitting at Emily's bedside so she would never feel alone.

Your love carried Emily and her family through the most difficult days of their lives.

Every prayer, every meal, every visit, every text message, every act of kindness, and every gift was received with profound gratitude. The family truly felt lifted by your prayers and surrounded by your love and care.

Celebration of Life

A private Celebration of Life service honoring Emily's life will be held on October 6, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.

To allow family an intimate time of remembrance, the service will be private. A livestream will be made available for those who wish to join in honoring Emily's life. Information regarding access to the livestream will be published and shared closer to the service date.

In Lieu of Flowers

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to the family's GoFundMe established to support Lily and Jaxson's future educational expenses. Emily's greatest joy in life was being a mother, and any contribution made in her memory will help invest in the future of the two children she loved so deeply.

The family is profoundly grateful for the overwhelming generosity, prayers, encouragement, and support already shown during this difficult time. Every act of kindness has been a blessing and a reminder of how deeply Emily was loved.

In Loving Memory

Emily's story cannot be measured by years alone, but by the lives she changed, the patients she cared for, the students she mentored, the friendships she cultivated, the faith she shared, and the family she loved so completely. Her legacy lives on in Lily and Jaxson, in the pharmacists and clinicians she helped train, in the countless patients whose lives were touched by her care, and in every person made better because Emily was part of their story.

Though her earthly journey ended far too soon, her influence will continue through the compassion she showed, the example she set, and the love she so freely gave. Her memory will live on in every story told, every life improved through her kindness, and in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know her.

Though our hearts are broken, we rejoice in the promise that Emily's story does not end here.

"Well done, good and faithful servant." — Matthew 25:23

An online guestbook is available at www.compassionatecremationva.com

Compassionate Cremation Services of Ruckersville, VA is honored to serve Emily’s family.