Rest in Peace, Vini Short
September 23, 1953 - October 4, 2025
Galilee and the Northern Virginia community suffered a loss with the passing of Vini Short on October 4, 2025. Vini, with his beloved wife Jane, was the organizer and chief gardener not just at the Galilee Gift Garden, but at gardens growing fresh food for hungry neighbors at several churches in the area. Vini’s purpose in doing this, as he always said, was “Feeding hope into lives.” The work in the garden was only part of Vini’s untiring effort to spread the love of Christ through charitable works.
What motivated Vini to be a firm and confident follower of Christ? If you knew Vini, you knew his story. Vini was never shy about testifying to a personal encounter he had with Jesus in his youth. It happened on October 23, 1971, or what Vini called his REBIRTHDAY. He recounted the event on social media:
And the voice said turn around and see who is here. I turned to see a Man, He had the most beautiful blue robe with a golden belt, with emeralds and diamonds glistening around Him in all directions forever: He had a long white beard and long white hair as white as snow, His eyes of fire looked into mine. It felt like a bolt of electricity shoot from His eyes into my eyes as i fell to my knees; He showed me all the days of my journey and all the days of man, i lowered my head and began to weep; He place His hand on my shoulder, i looked up and He said, "Welcome Home" and vanished. I began His walk, awakened, always looking in His eyes, always seeing His face, to this very day.
Like his Lord, Vini valued Jewish religious observances, which he maintained in harmony with an immovable faith in Jesus Christ as our God and Savior. He loved his country and he loved Israel, the Holy Land in which Jesus walked. We’ll miss Vini at Galilee, and he will also be missed by his many cherished friends and his wife, children, and grandchildren.
May you rest in peace, Vini. You were a blessing to us.
A memorial service for Vini Short was held at Sterling United Methodist Church on Saturday, October 25, 2025. Read Vini’s obituary.
Area Gardens
DeShong’s Giftback continues to grow food at several locations in Loudoun and Fairfax County.
The garden ministry that Vini and Jane started was created to grow good, fresh food—“feeding hope into lives” by supplying fresh vegetables for local food banks. Volunteers continue to harvest swiss chard, peppers, yellow squash, zucchini, tomatoes and more.
While a garden is not currently happening at Galilee, Vini and Jane Short’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit, DeShong’s Gift Back, still manages area gardens. Their volunteers do amazing work at Forrest’s Gift Garden at Sterling UMC, for example. The produce of these gardens goes to four area food banks and helps supply over 1,000 families with fresh vegetables every season. The team pick and deliver vegetables every week all summer.
You can help! There is always more work than there are volunteers. Check out the DeShong’s Gift Back website for more information.
