Jacqueline Klara

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April 18, 2020

Please forgive the delay in writing about you Jay, I have been struggling for breath, for words, to honor you. Everything right now is still so painful because it all reminds me of you. I’m sure you could teach me about all the ways I am grieving... morePlease forgive the delay in writing about you Jay, I have been struggling for breath, for words, to honor you. Everything right now is still so painful because it all reminds me of you. I’m sure you could teach me about all the ways I am grieving according to my astrological sign, ha. You are so intertwined with our little family. From pictures on the wall, to memories and laughs, to the most cherished gifts my kids received. I wish that you knew in life what you know now – how truly and deeply you were loved, no matter how crazy things got or how distant you felt and how much of an impact you had on absolutely every person you came across.

I remember the first time I met you at an L-word watch party. We were in the fan and you went to the alley to smoke a cigarette and came back telling tales of cartwheels and cops. We really became friends after we both broke up with our respective long time partners and mourned those losses together… which included you doing the splits in the middle of the three monkeys deck in a bet with a neighboring table we’d never met. You always had the ability to draw me out of my shell and make me laugh.

You introduced me to my now wife. In fact, thanks for being late that night to Babes… I know you’ll still never let me forget it, even from the other side. You’ve encouraged us, believed in us, loved us, razzed us, and helped us all along the way to get to where we are. You always called us your unicorn couple. I think you gave me the strength today to write this, by planting a unicorn picture smack dab in the middle of my phone this morning. You also always said you were the kids fairy godmother, and now, I really believe you are… Do your magic Jay. You promised to take Hartley somewhere in the world when she graduated and I know you will, just not physically.

You brought so many people into my life, who are gifts to me now, & those will carry on. And so many crazy memories I am thankful for.

You lived so passionately; you loved intensely, you fought intensely, you hurt intensely. You were so thoughtful of others. You encouraged people to live unapologetically. You were a magnet to those around you and seemed to have a knack for finding souls in dark moments and lifting them into the sunlight. That can be exhausting for anyone. I hope that you find yourself unburdened now. That you find yourself at peace and in the warmth and grace of Heaven. That you can now count your wins as a fairy godmother to us all, sprinkling your magic, light, and joy over us as we move through this substantially darker world without you.

I love you and I miss you with all of my being. less

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April 15, 2020 · via iPhone

I wanted to wait a few days to write about my daughters best friend and amazing young woman who lost her life this past weekend. I didn’t know exactly what to say. After a few days of reading and looking at how
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April 15, 2020 · via iPhone

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Celebrating and Commemorating Jackie “Jay” Klara

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April 15, 2020 · via mobile

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April 15, 2020 · via mobile

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April 15, 2020

Ali Allred reacted on this.

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April 15, 2020

I met Jay a few times before I actually got to interact with her on a deeper level. But she was always that girl who caught your eye. Not because of her looks, which she was gorgeous, but because she just electric. She always seemed to be the one having... more

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Ali Allred I really enjoyed reading this! I keep reading the descriptions of her thinking YES! She really did bring you all the way out...”unapologetically” as you said. I hope she is receiving all this love and seeing what an impact she had. Way to go, girl!... more
- April 15, 2020
Jaclyn Claytor Thank you Checo. <3
- April 15, 2020

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April 15, 2020 · via iPhone

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April 15, 2020 · via iPhone

I still say middle school times were the best of my life. High school just didn’t have the same bond or shock factor of the life we led at LMS. I feel more connected to y’all in some kind of way than people I met later. Not that I haven’t made... more

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April 15, 2020 · via iPhone

Jackie and I were friends in middle school. We lost touch over the years but there are some people, like Jackie, who you don’t forget. She lit up any room she entered with her bright smile, fun personality. Our entire group of friends at Lynnhaven... more

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April 15, 2020 · via iPhone

I was not privileged to have known Jackie. From all I’ve heard and read about her I wish I had known her. She left a beautiful and unique impression on each of you. She will forever be part of your story, and ,goodness, do you all have stories and... more

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April 15, 2020

Jay and I became friends in college - we were really close for awhile before losing contact with one another after college. She was the most vibrant human I have ever met. She was passionate and fierce and dramatic. She was a lot of fun. We met... more

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Ali Allred reacted on this.
Ali Allred You really captured who she was so well! She does stand out as that person who believes in you and won’t accept anything less than seeing you at your best. What a great trait. She really was a great supporter and helped you dream as big as possible!
- April 15, 2020

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April 14, 2020

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April 14, 2020

I met Jay the first week during my freshmen year of college. We were both in Joe Sampson’s 8am acting class, and there were only about 8 people in the entire group. It didn’t take long for us to get close. She was a great acting partner-and you... moreI met Jay the first week during my freshmen year of college. We were both in Joe Sampson’s 8am acting class, and there were only about 8 people in the entire group. It didn’t take long for us to get close. She was a great acting partner-and you really have to trust the people you are working with on stage. I remember in one show we had to have these thick Boston accents. We would chug Red Bull’s and do funky dances backstage before we went on just to pump ourselves up and make us feel like these rough tough Bostonians...the things we do for theatre! One of our first projects in acting class was to teach a lesson on something you were really skilled in. Jay decided to bring all of her best make-up to class and taught everyone how to make your eyes “pop” and look amazing. She made me her make-up demo model that day to show everyone. I didn’t realize at the time that she would be doing make up again for my wedding day and standing by me as I recited my vows 10 years later.

Jay and I shared a lot of firsts because we were best friends who were both living on our own for the first time. We shared apartments together, bought furniture together, and weirdly enough, adopted cats together. We went through some of our toughest break-ups together, and when one of us was down-we blasted the best music, broke out whatever Boone’s farm wine we could find and cried until we laughed...or laughed until we cried. The night normally ended with a 2am delivery of Chanellos pizza. We turned 21 together. Our birthdays are only 8 days apart so we always made sure to throw the best house parties. Jay knew how to have fun for sure. She certainly knew how to have more fun than I did and she taught me so much about letting loose and enjoying the moments you have in front of you. She was the best dancer, the most talented karaoke singer, and could make friends with just about everyone she met. I even got my first (and only) tattoo with Jay. For some stupid reason I thought it would be a good idea to get a tattoo on my ribs. She sat there and held my hand the whole time. But not only did she hold my hand, she recited Shakespeare quotes and made me guess the show it came from in order to keep my mind off of the fact that there was a needle hitting my ribs and making them feel like they were on fire! There are so many memories and stories and sayings that I could probably sit here for hours and talk about, but to be honest, college was really just the beginning of our friendship.

When I was about to graduate from VCU Grad School, I planned on meeting Jay out at the local bar we used to go to all the time. Little did I know that someone who she called “Claytor” was also waiting to meet her there too. Jay was running fashionably late and this led to me having to make small talk with “Claytor,” as we waited for our mutual friend to show up. Well, “Claytor” or Lauren, is now my wife and the mother of my children. Jay would make sure you know that she is the reason we met and fell in love. And she would call us her unicorn couple. Which always makes me laugh because for the longest time I really didn’t know what that even meant. But she did.

I’m sad that my kids will not remember their Aunt Jay and her beautiful presence when she was in the room with you. She was so incredibly proud of my kids-even if they would be drooling and screaming or pitching a fit-Jay would say how smart they were or how funny and cute they were. She was such a doting aunt/fairy godmother, and it was fun to see her in that role these last few years. For my daughter’s 3rd birthday last year, she bought her this little picture frame with a unicorn on the front and it has a Lady Gaga “born this way” quote on it in glitter and sparkles. On the inside Jay had written a sweet note to Hartley and at the bottom she wrote, “never stop believing in miracles.” I think somehow Jay believed that we were this miraculous unicorn couple...this miraculous family. But really- having her support, her pep talks, and her believing in us even when life gets crazy-that is the miracle. To have a friend like Jay in your life-that’s something incredibly special. She was her own little unicorn miracle in the fact that she left her unique imprint on your heart. I’m honored that she chose me to be her friend all these years. She will forever live on in my heart and memories. less

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Ali Allred reacted on this.
Ali Allred I've read this several times now. You're a great story teller. Makes me feel closer to her getting to read this. What a beautiful friendship! I am so glad she connected us
- April 15, 2020
Jaclyn Claytor Ali I am so thankful that she connected us. <3
- April 15, 2020

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April 14, 2020 · via iPhone

Jackie, my darling. There are no words that can express my love for you for you are a part of who I am. You were one of, if not my first, real friend...from Elementary School!!! I could always be the real me with you. You’d call me out if I was... more

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