TUNIS MILLS — Phyllis Schuyler Jeffra, a long-time Tunis Mills resident who in the 1970’s helped prove women on the Eastern Shore could sell cars as well as men could, died on Thursday, April 7, 2016 at the facility formerly known as William Hill Manor. She was 73.
Born on Jan. 14, 1943 in Easton, MD, she was the only daughter of Van Rensselaer Schuyler and Grace Russell Schuyler.
She graduated from the Country School in 1956 and then attended Easton High School for two years before graduating from Fairfax Hall in Waynesboro, VA in 1960. After briefly attending the University of Maryland, she graduated from the Bard-Avon Secretarial School in 1962.
While living in Baltimore, she met Arthur F. Jeffra, and they married on April 29, 1966. In Baltimore, Mrs. Jeffra worked in the office of prominent dermatologist Dr. R.C.V. Robinson for five years, and then for WJZ-TV for another five years before returning to Talbot County with Artie in 1972.
In 1976, Mrs. Jeffra became the first woman on the Eastern Shore to work full-time selling cars in a local dealership. Her eight-year career as a car salesperson began with Colonial Lincoln, Mercury & VW (now Norris Ford). She then moved to Fuller Motor Sales (now Hertrich Honda). After selling cars, Mrs. Jeffra went to work for Weems Brothers Inc. and remained at the construction company for 17 years until her retirement in 2000.
Mrs. Jeffra was a past member of the Talbot Country Club and the Miles River Yacht Club. She enjoyed raising flowers and vegetables in her backyard, hunting for ducks and geese, and shooting skeet. She liked to fish in Leeds Creek and beyond on her 20-foot runabout named Peter Pan.
After 49 years of marriage to Phyllis, Artie Jeffra died on Jan. 25, 2015. She is survived by her stepdaughter, Janet V. Wharton of Reno, NV; a niece, Mary H. “Meezi” Goodwin, of Tunis Mills; seven cousins: Stephanie S. Sewell, Peter Hanks, Laura H. Meltor, Jane V.R. Mellor, James H. Mellor, Susan M. Jones and Peter S. Mellor; along with several other nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by five cousins: Schieffelin S. Schuyler, Patricia Mellor Hanks, Schuyler L. Mellor, Parsons Hanks and Geoffrey B. Mellor.
Mrs. Jeffra died at the Bayleigh Chase facility in Easton after several months of hospitalization while suffering from lung ailments and other health issues.
A celebration of Mrs. Jeffra’s life will be held at her and Artie’s home in Tunis Mills on Saturday, May 21st at 3 p.m. Arrangements are being handled by Williamson Funeral Home in Federalsburg. She will be inurned at the Spring Hill Cemetery in Easton, alongside Mr. Jeffra.
In lieu of flowers, and because of her concern and love for children, memorial donations in Mrs. Jeffra’s memory may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or stjude.org. Or, as Mrs. Jeffra instructed, donate to “the charity of your choice or go out and plant a tree!”
