LaCona Grayson, devoted foster mom and women empowerment podcast host, dies at 40
Editor’s note: This feature is part of a weekly focus from The Star meant to highlight and remember the lives of Black Kansas Citians who have died.
After a loved one lost their battle to breast cancer, LaCona Grayson hit the ground running to be of service to others in the community with the disease.
“We walked together in a 5K breast cancer walk sponsored by Lonnie Bush,” said Felicia Love, Grayson’s godmother. “LaCona got t-shirts printed up in honor of her Aunty Linda Kay Grayson.”
Love said this was one of many ways Grayson gave back. Another mission of Grayson’s was providing care packages to the homeless community.
“She would call you and say ‘Can I count on you for 100 bars of soap?’” Love recalled.
Grayson recognized the blight within the urban community and the need to help.
“She decided she was going to be of service to whatever God pointed her to,” Love said.
Grayson died Oct. 18 from COVID-19 and pneumonia. She was 40.
She was born to Clifford Johnson and Levetta Grayson on Sept. 13, 1981, in Kansas City, Missouri. She relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1989 with her mother, who remarried to James Stegall who helped raise Grayson.
She was educated in the Atlanta Public School System, graduating from South Atlanta High School. She then attended college at Albany State and Kennesaw State universities. Later, she worked as a certified pharmacy tech before pursuing her passion of helping others live better lives.
Family says she launched many programs including, “Activate Your Evolution,” a girl’s leadership and empowerment program where she hosted sessions with the Hickman Mills School District and surrounding areas.
Grayson was also the creator behind the podcast, “Authentic Audacity with Ms. Janay.” This particular podcast encouraged women to be their authentic selves.
“She talked about no matter if you weighed 100 pounds or 200 pounds, to be who you are and to take pride in who you are,” Love said. “She encouraged women to not look at their outer selves and characterize that as their inner self.”
She also helped many through other organizations including iMatter Experience, Giving Hope & Help, Dreams KC, GEW, and Unexpected Smiles. Family says through Unexpected Smiles, Grayson would send random gifts to women in the group in hopes of brightening their day.
“She’d encourage others to achieve whatever goals by writing them down and not letting anything or anyone get in the way,” Love said.
Grayson was on a mission to improve the lives of others. However, her biggest accomplishment and what family says will be her legacy, is her love of fostering children.
Grayson was a foster mother to several girls including, Zion, Selena, Destiny, Amaria, Klye, Amayla, Nya and Aburie.
She worked as a consultant with Foster Adopt Connect to help diversify their staff and also launched KC Black Foster families as an advocacy and educational program for Black people who were fostering kids of color.
“She was just a beautiful soul,” Love said.
Grayson leaves to cherish her memory her parents, James and Levetta Stegall; her father, Clifford Johnson; her brothers, James Stegall Jr., and Maurice Stegall; her grandmother, Lovinna Grayson Curry; her godparents, Felicia Love, Linda and Clifford Mills; sisters, Ambral McCoy, Shatoya Johnson, Sharon Johnson, Lucretia Stegall, Camilla Stegall, Jamillah Milligan, Venus Mills, Cortney Jo Sandidge and Jacquelyn Sullivan; and two other brothers, Reginald London and Amiri Hornsby; her aunties, Dorothy, Wanda, Beverly, Aretha, Karen, and Josie, aunt LaConna-name’s sake, Rhonda and Marsha; Stegall aunties, Shirley, Sheila, Donna, Missy, Pat, Pam and Uncle Steve; special cousins, Jackeya, Jada and Ryan Highsmith; and a host of aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins and loved ones.
Other remembrances
Derrie Burks
Derrie G. Burks was born on November 14, 1942, in Manning, Arkansas, to Leonard and Cornelius Burks.
He accepted Christ at an early age. When he moved to Kansas City, he became a member of Trinity Baptist Church where he was ordained as a lifetime Deacon. Family says he loved his church family.
They describe Burks as a gentle giant who loved and helped many. He was also a serious Kansas City Chiefs fan.
He worked for Certain-Teed Fiberglass and Milly Company in Fairfax, retiring after 44 years.
Deacon Burks leaves to cherish his memories his wife of 57 years, Johnnie Mae Burks; son, Glen; daughter, Theresa Lynn; daughter-in-law, Kim; four special grandsons, Keith, Jr., Derrius, Jordan and Glen, Jr.; thirteen special granddaughters, Kristy, Kamille, Tenesha, Jalise, Jade, Adrianna, Gianna, Jasmine, Journee, Brea, Makenzie, Shayana and Avana; and a host of great grandchildren, sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Deborah Scott
Deborah Denise Scott was born March 21, 1957, in Kansas City, Kansas, to James and Claudia Taylor.
She was raised and educated in the Kansas City area, graduating from Bonner Springs High School in 1975. In 1978, she was blessed with a son, Dewayne Taylor.
In 1989, she married Gary Scott. They had two daughters, Demika and Demetria Scott.
Family says Scott was known for her artistic skills. She was passionate about sewing, hat making, painting, crocheting and many other creative expressions.
Left to cherish her memory are her children: Dewayne Taylor, Demika Scott, and Demetria Scott; grandchildren: Darius, Diani, Devin, Keenan, Elise, Eric and Denim; siblings: Michael, Jimmie Elizabeth, Keith and Candice; and a host of other relatives and friends.