Linda Ann (Raflo) Raford

MARCH 8, 1952 to APRIL 5, 2022

A Life Well Lived & A Life Done Well

A Traditional Eulogy

Followed by A Loving, Nontraditional, and Subjective Bio & Timeline from Linda’s Life Partner

Born in Bedford, Virginia to Evelyn and Franklin Raflo, Linda became a nurse, a midwife, and an acupuncturist. Late in life she studied herbalism and aromatherapy, then became a CBD educator and counselor. She was a devoted mother, wife, and lover; a steadfast friend and comforter. Always an exuberant adventurer with rare zeal for life, while not an athlete per se, she exhibited physical toughness and resiliency beyond most adrenaline or sports junkies. Like all of us she had her fears, but was fearless in her quest to challenge them and to experience life to the fullest.

An activist and a fierce fighter for special needs persons, including her son, Jared, she also dedicated herself to women’s rights, to the environment, and to progressive social causes. After living in Native American communities from Arizona to Alaska, she gave consistently to numerous indigenous charities and causes. In later years she traveled with “Acupuncturists without Borders” to Nepal, Bali, and to Myanmar to mentor and teach local students.

Through these endeavors and with her passions she journeyed across the planet, touching down on six of the world’s continents. Engaging with and learning from different cultures and traditions, she reveled in their shared humanity. Besides the cultural, historic, and artistic, on all her travels she sought out the natural places, the wild. There she exulted and thrived. 

A gifted cultivator of plants, all who visited her home saw the abundance of green leaves and tendrils wrapping the walls of her living room, draping and wreathing her indigenous sacred statues and the animal relics she had acquired during her adventures.  Although it could seem a contradiction with her Earth Mother and wild wise woman personas, Linda also became a space and astronomy aficionado, joyfully sharing stellar conjunctions and rocket launch schedules with all who cared.

An irrepressible optimist, a fan or perhaps a zealot for music and art, Linda also manifested a quick and easy sense of humor. With her instantly engaging personality, she never hesitated to offer advice and her often true wisdom to anyone she met, even after first introductions. Nor did she ever fail to comfort and rescue the injured and hurt, people as well as animals.

Perhaps overly sensitive to and avoidant of the darker sides of life, throughout her time on Earth she nonetheless remained deeply spiritual, connected to the cosmic and divine. She hurt, she cried. But even to her end, she manifested a core peace and love that marked her path through life.

She left a glorious positive impact on those that knew her.

And for all who knew her, she will be missed.

Linda did not want a service, so traditional gestures cannot serve as expressions of condolence from those who loved her. Because her son, Jared, was central to her life and heart, those who wish to express their feelings for Linda are encouraged instead to send a contribution to the Jared Strongheart Raford Special Needs Trust Fund.