Background
Thomy Lafon was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of Pierre Laralde and Modest Foucher. How he came by the name Lafon is not known. His father was part French; his mother was of Haitian extraction. Both were free persons of color.
Thomy Lafon was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of Pierre Laralde and Modest Foucher. How he came by the name Lafon is not known. His father was part French; his mother was of Haitian extraction. Both were free persons of color.
Lafon begin his life as a school teacher. About 1850, he began to operate a small store in Orleans Street, in his native city. Just before the Civil War he began to lend his savings at advantageous rates of interest and to invest in real estate. Possessed of excellent judgment and great sagacity, he quickly accumulated a comfortable fortune, which grew with the years, and which enabled him to leave an estate valued at approximately half a million dollars at the time of his death.
He never married, but lived with his sister, his sole companion and adviser, who possessed the same traits and characteristics as himself. A devoted Roman Catholic, he became greatly attached, toward the end of his life, to Archbishop Janssens, who possibly influenced his later philanthropies. These extended to all classes of society with no distinction in regard to color or race, sex or age. By his will, dated April 3, 1890, he provided for his aged sister and some friends, but left the bulk of his estate to charitable, educational, and religious institutions of New Orleans. Among them were the Charity Hospital, the Lafon Old Folks Home, the Society of the Holy Family, the Shakespeare Almshouse, Straight University (now Straight College) and one or two other colored educational institutions, and the Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital. He died at his home, and was buried in St. Louis Cemetery on Esplanade Avenue.
Lafon was recognized as a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist and human rights activist in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was best known, not for his wealth, but for helping those less fortunate. He was the founder of the Lafon Orphan Boys' Asylum and the Home for Aged Colored Men and Women. He also made donations to religious and charitable organizations. In recognition of his charities the city of New Orleans has named one of its public schools after him.
Lafon was physically weak and almost emaciated in appearance, but his carriage was erect and dignified, and his manners courteous and affable. His fluency in the use of French and Spanish led many, apparently without reason, to believe that he had been educated in Europe. He was devoted to art and especially fond of music. His olive complexion, regular features, and straight steel-gray hair, would have enabled him to pass as a Caucasian in most communities, but he made no effort to conceal his race. He was of a retiring nature and averse to notoriety of any kind. Although he owned pretentious houses in many sections of the city, he preferred a humble abode, a small, shabby-looking cottage at the corner of Ursuline and Robertson Streets. Lafon shunned all extravagances and lived like a miser, but, while he carefully investigated all requests for assistance, he was never known to refuse financial aid to deserving persons or causes.
