Jacqueline Elizabeth Scott Rodgers had a smile that could truly light up a room. Behind that beautiful smile was a compassionate heart for taking care of people that led her to first career as a licensed practical nurse. In the midst of her nursing career she got married and started a family consisting of her four children. As fate would have it she eventually became a single mother to her four children and had to establish a way to adequately support them. As a lifelong learner, unafraid of pursuing any opportunity to expand her knowledge, Jacqueline jumped head first into her more lucrative second career at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard where she moved through an apprenticeship program to become a pipefitter and later received a promotion to a nuclear inspector. It was in her second career that Jacqueline demonstrated an unmatched tenacity in the face of struggle. While her four children were in the midst of their teenage years, Jacqueline was diagnosed with end stage kidney disease and had to begin a demanding schedule of dialysis treatments while maintaining and even more demanding work schedule as a shipyard employee. For years she kept up with pace of her work schedule, medical treatments and the duties of being a single parent until she received a kidney transplant. After receiving and recovering from her kidney transplant she completed what would be a 17 year career at the shipyard until all of her children had reached the age of maturity. After leaving her career at the shipyard she again returned to her passion of nursing and worked in that capacity until her kidney transplant failed and she was diagnosed with breast cancer that subsequently spread to her lungs. Though cancer eventually took her life, it never took Jacqueline’s smile away. Though sickness was an ever present part of her life, whether she was caring for others or addressing her own medical issues, she always let the joy in her heart shine through and you would never hear her complain about her struggles. It is in the amazing spirit of Jacqueline Elizabeth Scott Rodgers that this foundation has been created. Using funds raised on her behalf we want to support people stricken with medical conditions that have the same spirit to fight on against the odds.
