Sanford Reaves Jr. is a lifelong native of Culpeper and a 26-year member of REC. Reaves is a 1974 graduate of Culpeper County High School and a 1976 graduate of Smithdeal-Massey Business College of Richmond. In 2005, Reaves graduated from the Virginia Union University School of Theology (master of divinity). He is a member of the Antioch Baptist Church of Culpeper, and has been pastor of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church for 10 years.

Since 1995, Reaves has been the owner and president of Sanford and Sons Construction and Janitorial Services. He has also worked as operations manager for Federal Express for 7 1/2 years and general manager for Omni Services Inc., Sanis Division of Culpeper for 8 1/2 years. 

Reaves is also a local Realtor, has served on the Culpeper County Planning Commission for 25 years, and holds the position of chairman.

Reaves serves on the Board of Directors for the Prison Re-Entry, Chamber of Commerce and Salem Educational Foundation as well as Culpeper Jaycees and NAACP (past president) and Wayland Blue Ridge Union (past moderator).

Reaves lives in the Salem District of Culpeper with his wife of 40 years, Lorraine. They have three children and four grandchildren.