Lolly Macleod Quigley
Lolly MacLeod Quigley, a woman of grace and strength, left us much too soon on September 9, 2025. She was born on December 30, 1960, in Charlottesville, Va., the fourth and cherished daughter of Muffie and Bob MacLeod. She grew up playing in the neighborhood, riding bikes and wearing Bobby socks longer than most of her friends. In 1973, she moved with her family to a farm in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Free Union, Va., where she learned about Black Angus cows, thoroughbred horses, driving a tractor and house restoration. She graduated from Albemarle High School in 1979 and from Virginia Tech in 1983 with a degree in Art. She moved to Roanoke in 1983 and married Jim Quigley in 1997. Together, they restored their beautiful turn-of-the-century home under the Roanoke Star.
Whether it was day-to-day on the job, volunteering for the United Way, Downtown Roanoke, Inc., or even a stint as chair of the board of the local Advertising Federation, Lolly excelled at everything she did. A savvy and astute businesswoman, she rose from Account Executive at Cox Cable to the position of Sales Manager at WDBJ-7 Television. As a member of the management team, she was integral in maintaining not only the station’s market leadership but also improving community partnerships through her
involvement with business and government leaders across the region.
Her skills and experience went international when, twice in 2004, Lolly and her colleagues from WDBJ were invited to participate in a broadcasting exchange program for emerging technologies in Ukraine. Her experience there had a lasting impact on her understanding of the country’s political situation and her compassion for the people.
Even after early retirement from television, and while restoring three houses down the hill from their home, Lolly took on the role of General Manager at Dixie Products, making friends and gaining the respect of partners in an entirely new arena. Always a visionary, she expanded showroom renovations to the exterior of the building, inspiring a beautiful Jon Murrill mural that covers the entire façade, making a positive impact not only on the building but also on the shop’s northwest Roanoke neighborhood.
Lolly led by example and was quietly in charge, fiercely principled, and always fair. She left each place better than she found it. She was kind, creative, playful, generous, and an inspiration to everyone who met her. She was a vital member of the girl-gang of sisters. She was the best of humanity, thoroughly loving and loved by all. She was a tall, blue-eyed blonde beauty who loved clothes and always looked perfect, the fourth leaf on the four-leaf clover. She lived by an ethos that made her love deeply, continue to learn, be curious, and be kind to all.
Lolly was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2023 and fought it valiantly, along with her physicians at Carilion Gynecologic Oncology Clinic, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and UVA. We send our heartfelt gratitude to them and to the infusion and hospice nursing teams for their compassionate care of Lolly and Jim.
Lolly was pre-deceased by her parents but is survived by her husband, Jim; her sisters, Cindy MacLeod (Doug), Wendy Murphy (Jim), Jinny Buchanan (David); sister-in-law, Carol (Fran); brothers-in-law, Mike and Bob (Patti); nine nieces and nephews, and her late father’s widow, Jan E. Rae.
Her strength and her courage throughout her life will not be forgotten. As a memorial, please consider a donation to Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. Lolly was a longtime donor to this organization as she was passionate in her belief that all children should be born into a loving and caring family.
A celebration of her life is being planned.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.
