Jacqueline Lavern Gafford

Jacqueline Lavern Gafford was born on April 15, 1956 in Bastrop, Louisiana to Leon Leafus Gafford, Sr. and Ida Lemelle Gafford. She passed away after a lengthy illness at 68 years old on July 30, 2024 at Saint Luke Hospital. 

Jacqee graduated from Northwood High School (Shreveport). She later attended Grambling State University. Grambling was awarded the first Norman Lear Award for Comedy thru the American College Theatre Festival for playwright Judi Ann Mason’s “Livin’ Fat” and the first Lorraine Hansberry Award for Judi Ann Mason’s “A Star Ain’t Nothin’ But A Hole In Heaven”. Jacqee was an original cast member in both productions. As a Junior at Grambling State, she was nominated for the Irene Ryan Scholarship as a part of the American College Theatre Festival for her portrayal of the chorus in Grambling’s production of Jean Anouilh’s “Antigone”. Jacqee was also a winner of the Barbara Jordan Speech Tournament for Oratory. She left early to try her luck in Los Angeles. After several years she rejoined her family in Kansas City, Missouri where she worked in various jobs, but her heart was always in the theatre. 

Jacqee continued to audition for theatre projects and that is how she met her future creative partner and spouse, Frances Farah during an audition for New Directions Theatre Company. Some years later, Jacqee and Fran left New Directions for Theatre for Young America (TYA). There, Jacqee worked as tour manager, stage manager, actress, playwright, and teacher. 

Jacqee was a consummate theatre artist and was involved in theatre projects throughout the city including acting and directing at the Coterie Theatre, UMKC professional acting program (Theatre Dept.), Lawrence Community Theatre, Rockhurst University Theatre, Just Off Broadway Theatre and acting and directing productions at the Unicorn including “Flyin’ West”, “Having Our Say”, “Old Settler”, “Intimate Apparel”,  “Betrayal of the Black Jesus”, “Crowns”, “The Women of Brewster Place”, and “And Her Hair Went With Her”. Also with the JOB Resident Theatre and Melting Pot Theatre with Harvey and Linda Williams

In the 2000’s Jacqee and Fran set up another theatrical production company, InPlay Theatre where Jacqee began to develop more as a playwright, reworking a play she had co-written with Gene Mackey of TYA about Barbara Jordan, writing a family comedy called “Grape Vine”, writing a play about Kansas City during the riots following Dr. King’s death called “Nothing Comes to Sleepers”, authoring a play about Coretta Scott King, Myrlie Evers, and Betty Shabazz called “Dark Was Their Journey” and also a play about lesser known aspects of African American history called “Only the Wounds and Weapons Have Changed”, and “Harlem Knights”. These plays were produced at Just Off Broadway Theatre. Jacqee also directed the Lorraine Hansberry play, “A Raisin in the Sun”, which was one of her favorites.

Jacqee was very active in politics. She and Fran campaigned for many candidates, most notable President Barack Obama. They were invited to his inauguration. They fought for women’s rights, civil rights, and to improve the lives of those in Kansas City. 

On October 24, 2020, Jacqee and Fran were married with limited family and friends in attendance due to COVID restrictions. 

Jacqee was a member of Actors’ Equity, and SAG-AFTRA, professional theatrical and screen professionals Unions.

Jacqee was predeceased by her spouse, Frances Farah and her parents Leon and Ida Gafford. Those left to celebrate her life are: stepdaughters Felicia Giron (Shantou, China), Gabrielle Giron (Kansas City, Mo); four brothers – Terrell (Diana) Oklahoma City, OK, Christopher, Shreveport, La, Leon Jr., Shreveport, La, and Gary, Shreveport, La and one sister – Mary Gafford-Smith (Christopher), Shreveport, La , 3 nephews, 5 nieces, 7 great-nieces, 5 great-nephews and one aunt, Adeline Evans (Dallas, TX). Also many cousins, family friends and friends that become family.