Samantha Lynn Moeller, Diagnosed With Stage 4 Breast Cancer at 22, Dies at 29
MAIDENS, Va. — Samantha Lynn Moeller, a young mother, musician, and advocate who inspired thousands by sharing her journey with advanced breast cancer, passed away on Monday, January 5, 2026, at Martha Jefferson Hospital. She was 29. Samantha had battled breast cancer for more than six years, first diagnosed at just 22 years old.
Born July 9, 1996, in Charlottesville, Virginia, Samantha grew up in the area and graduated from Albemarle High School in 2014. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Virginia in 2018. A gifted musician and performer, she played trumpet in the UVA Cavalier Marching Band, where she met her husband, Eric Gray Moeller.
In March 2019, Samantha publicly shared that she had been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer at age 22. Over the years, she endured extensive treatment, including 13 rounds of chemotherapy, two lumpectomies, 38 rounds of radiation, and years of targeted and hormone therapies. After achieving remission for four years, the cancer returned in August 2023, spreading to her spine and pelvis and resulting in a fractured vertebra that required surgery and additional radiation. Throughout it all, Samantha documented her experience on YouTube, offering clarity, honesty, and hope to tens of thousands navigating cancer diagnoses of their own.
Professionally, Samantha worked as a security management specialist at SWIFT in Culpeper, Virginia, from 2018 to 2022. In 2022, she and her husband spent a year in Wasilla, Alaska, where Samantha was baptized and welcomed their daughter, Bonnie. The family later returned to central Virginia.
Those closest to Samantha remember her as selfless and quietly strong. She celebrated others without hesitation, supported her family in countless ways, and found her greatest joy in motherhood. Friends and family say her patience, wisdom, and deep faith defined her life, as did her unwavering commitment to showing kindness and love in both small and extraordinary moments.
Samantha is survived by her husband of five years, Eric Gray Moeller; their daughter, Bonnie; her parents, Christopher and Michelle Reid; siblings Suzanne Pattison (Brian), Steven Reid (Lexi), and Scott Reid (Breanna); and a large extended family, including nieces, nephews, in-laws, and grandparents. She was preceded in death by her grandparents George Hertel and Lucie “Sue” Reid.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Chapel, 2217 E. Green Springs Road, Louisa, Virginia. Due to limited parking, the family requests carpooling. A reception will follow at the Exchange Café in Barboursville.
Though her life was far too short, Samantha Lynn Moeller leaves behind a powerful legacy of resilience, faith, and compassion—one that continues to uplift and guide all who were touched by her story.