Sally Jenkins Shaffer

Sally Jenkins Shaffer, 71, of Silver Spring, MD, passed away on March 30, 2020, at Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center, after battling with cancer. Sally was a beloved wife, mother, Nana (grandmother), aunt, friend, and neighbor.

She owned and operated Sally Shaffer Antiques in Kensington, MD, for more than 40 years. The shop and Sally have been pillars of that community, and particularly of Kensington’s Antique Row, helping lead the organization of events such as the annual holiday open house, and supporting other community gatherings and celebrations. Sally grew her business beyond the shop, selling antiques online and jointly operating an estate sale business.

Sally is survived by: her husband, Joe Shaffer, their daughter, Carrie Shaffer Tiller (of Washington DC), Carrie’s husband, Caleb Tiller, their son Travis (13) and daughter Campbell (11), and many beloved nieces and nephews in the Winchester, VA, Atlanta, GA, and Birmingham, AL areas. Sally was preceded in death by her father, David Compton Jenkins, Sr., her mother, Frances Chapman Jenkins, and her brother, David Compton Jenkins, Jr.

Sally grew up in Winchester, VA, and often shared fond memories of living there. She met her husband outside of Winchester, when both were involved in folk music. She sang with The Valley Minstrels, and he sang with the Brothers 40. They all met one afternoon at Cacapon State Park and formed life long relationships.

She lived her entire adult life in the Washington, DC, area. Before getting into the antique business, she was involved in community and cultural institutions, including the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Washington National Cathedral, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Sally was a friend like no other, forming deep friendships, often taking people in or dropping everything to help someone when they most needed support. There have been several people in Sally’s life who have said that Sally is the best friend they ever had, and that she is the “only one” they could talk to about the most important things in life. For decades, Sally’s house in Silver Spring was known to neighbors as the house with two Christmas trees at holiday time that you could see from the street. For nearly 20 years, Sally and Joe had a vacation home in Cedar Neck, DE, outside of Bethany Beach, where they welcomed friends and family to enjoy everything that area has to offer.

Above all, Sally loved, and was loved by, her family. She and Joe married in 1971, and they have been together through thick and thin. Sally and Joe always said that they only had one child because Carrie was perfect. Sally poured her heart and soul into Carrie and was always there for her. Similarly, she doted on her grandchildren and loved to spoil them. Travis and Campbell have been so lucky to live so close to their Nana and have her in their lives this long.

She will be greatly missed by many.

Please share memories and well wishes at https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/sallyshaffer