Jacqueline Thompson Lafon

October 14, 1928 - October 11, 2021

Jacqueline Thompson Lafon, 92, passed away on October 11, 2021, at Berkshire Health and Rehabilitation Center, Vinton, VA where she had been a resident for the past 15 years. She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, James Blane Lafon, who moved the family from the Roanoke area to Tazewell County, VA in 1974 to live closer to his surface construction business for the coal mines (J. W. & L. Co. Inc.). She was also preceded in death by her parents, Douglas Henry and Emma Lois Gray Thompson; her oldest son, James Douglas Lafon and his wife, Marchetta Light Lafon; and her youngest son, Homer Lindsey Lafon. Also preceding her in death was her very special friend, Jack Salyers of Clinchco, VA.
Jacqueline was born in Blue Ridge, VA and completed her education as a member of the Class of 1946 at Colonial High School. Her favorite part of childhood was when she visited her Grandmother Thompson who lived on the Blue Ridge grade of the N & W Railway. Her Grandfather Thompson was an engineer, her father a conductor, and two uncles and an aunt were also railroad employees. Jacqueline loved her grandmother dearly and credits her for inspiring her resourcefulness, love for learning new things, and ability to nurture others. Jacqueline was a Girl Scout Leader for 9 years and met with her girls each week at Thrasher Memorial United Methodist Church in Vinton. This was a highlight of her life…to take what she had learned from her grandmother and pass it along to future generations including her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her daughters, Pamela Adams (Michael), Roanoke, VA, who made sure she received the best care possible until the end of her life and Patty Sayers (Danny), Tazewell, VA as well as her daughter-in-law, Karen Lafon, Pocahontas, VA. She is survived by 9 grandchildren (Amanda Lafon; Daniel, Bryan, and Brody Sayers; Mia and Jordan Walk; Caleb, Rhys, and Raina Lafon) and 15 great-grandchildren (Gabriel, Jacob, Douglas, Olivia, Kiera, Laci, Alaya, Brayden, Madison, Finnoula, Charlie, Cameron, Braxton, Jaxon, and Willow). They lovingly called her “MeeMaw” although she didn’t like that name very much. Also surviving is her best friend and fellow CHS classmate, June Price Grey; her special Girl Scout friend, Anne Marie Griffin; and family friends Brenda Cruise and Linda Wyatt.
The family will receive friends from 5pm – 7pm on Thursday, October 14th, 2021, at Lotz Funeral Home, Vinton, VA. The celebration of her life will be held at 2pm on Monday, October 18th, 2021, at Grandview Memory Gardens, Bluefield, VA with Rev. Robin Lafon officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Memorial donations may be made to the Virginia Museum of Transportation by mail, 303 Norfolk Avenue SW, Roanoke, VA 24019 or online https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E355772&id=1.