About Victoria “Vicky” Searls Traylor
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Pictured: Victoria (right) and her mother, Rose (left)
Vicky was known by family and friends for her beauty, creativity, dedication, grace, generosity, passion, service, strength and many talents. She spent a significant portion of her life working in public and community service, giving back to others by using her creativity and talents to make the impossible become possible. Service was a key pillar of her life and was evident in her contributions to her community, family and public service.
She worked for the Commonwealth of Virginia for 21 years in different roles for Legislative Services, the Virginia State Library and as a legal analyst for the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. After retiring from the Commonwealth of Virginia, she served as the business manager for Shady Grove United Methodist Church in Mechanicsville, VA, for many years.
While she held many titles in her professional and volunteer capacities, her dedication to her family and friends was what she cherished the most. Everything she did in life showed an incredible level of attention to detail, creativity, enthusiasm and determination.
As an adult, Vicky witnessed her mother, Rose Mrakovich Searls, suffer from myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Unfortunately, her mother could not receive comprehensive cancer treatment due to her age and other health factors, and passed away from the disease.
Just a few years later, Vicky was diagnosed with MDS. After the devastating loss of her mother, Vicky chose Massey for treatment because of the hospital’s positive reputation for pioneering cancer research and innovative treatment.
Pictured: Victoria (left) and her son, Thomas (right)
Her family and medical team tried every plausible treatment option. She did this while maintaining a level of selflessness throughout the process by showing care and concern for those around her while she was going through so much. Despite the odds being against her, she wanted to keep fighting and continue treatment but complications related to a stem cell transplant led to her passing in 2025.
In honor of his mother and her experience with MDS, Thomas J. Kohlbeck (VCU ‘08) established the Victoria Searls Traylor Fellowship for Research and Innovation in Hematological and Infectious Diseases, an eight-week summer fellowship that provides graduate students with the opportunity to obtain hands-on experience in blood cancer labs and clinics, bone marrow transplants, targeted therapy, cellular therapy and infectious disease research.
Learn more about the Victoria Searls Traylor Fellowship for Research and Innovation