Shaye Ann Coffman

Shaye Ann Coffman, 33, of Forest Virginia, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 20, 2024. Shaye was born on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1991, in Oakland, California. She was the beloved daughter of James Wyatt Coffman and Nancy Henderson Coffman, and loving sister to her brother Christopher James Coffman.

Shaye had a zest for life, pursuing her passions with unwavering dedication. She attended Virginia Commonwealth University where she was accepted into the prestigious Arts Program. She quickly learned that her passion for animals was even stronger than her love of the arts, and later changed her degree plans, shifting focus to Mass Communication with minors in Business and Nonprofit Management and Administration. She considered herself fortunate to land an internship at the Richmond SPCA, where she found her true calling. Shaye had an incredible love for all animals. While working there, she met her furry soulmate, Kamilah, a Cane Corso/Rottweiler mix. Kamilah had been deemed unadoptable. However, when Shaye and Kamilah saw each other, in her words, “It was love at first sight”. They were inseparable and seemed to read each other’s minds. Soon Kamilah’s and Chloe’s ashes will be laid to rest in the Special Friends (animal) Section at the same cemetery with Shaye. Her time at the SPCA was also filled with numerous accolades as an Adoption Counselor. She excelled in that role due to her compassionate nature and genuine love for every animal that she encountered. She loved being a regular on the news segment introducing animals available for adoption. Also, while in that role, she accumulated her own large furry family, including 2 sugar gliders, 1 rabbit, 2 cats, and 3 dogs. There surely would have been more had she not been living with her human family. Shaye later worked as a Veterinary Technician at the 610 Animal Hospital in Stafford, where she touched the lives of countless animals and their owners.

Shaye expressed her creativity through art which was a passion she embraced wholeheartedly. Her distinctive teal hair and tattoo of her beloved Kamilah were outward expressions of her vibrant spirit and artistic soul. Those who truly got to know Shaye described her as a bright shining light with the most beautiful, loving soul. Shaye’s love seemed boundless. She touched the lives of every human and animal she knew with kindness and compassion. She had an infectious laugh that caused everyone to join in.

Shaye is survived by her loving Parents, James and Nancy Coffman; her supportive, caring Brother, Christopher James Coffman; her Paternal Grandparents, Robert and Margaret Patterson Rose; as well as her Aunts, Cynthia Henderson (AKA her mommie #2 / her CiCi); Vickie Coffman Wheeler, Catherine Todd Untermeyer (Bones), and Sarah Rose; her Uncles, Wendall Coffman (Kim), Bobby Coffman (Kristine), Vernon Todd (Christi), and Larry Watson (Margarita); as well as numerous other great aunts, great uncles, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her furry soulmate, Kamilah, her Maternal Grandparents, Lonnie and Mary Henderson, and her Uncles, Ernie Wheeler and Mike Amador.

A funeral will be held for Shaye on Friday, May 3, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at Whitten Timberlake Chapel.

Interment will follow at Virginia Memorial Park.

A celebration of Shaye’s life will also be held at a later date in Fredericksburg.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Richmond SPCA, an organization that held a special place in Shaye’s heart, 2519 Hermitage Road, Richmond, Virginia 23220, https://richmondspca.org/how-you-can-help/donate/

Shaye is at peace now in the arms of Jesus and her light will forever shine brightly in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.