Camilla Ruth Grayson

Camilla (“Cam”) Ruth Grayson, known for her radiant smile, kind and gracious spirit, dedication to her children and grandchildren, and deep love for Jesus Christ, passed away peacefully at her Peachtree City, GA home surrounded by her family on Tuesday, January 4th, 2022. She died of cancer at 77 years old, but was always a child at heart. She was a bright spark in this world and will be deeply missed by many.

Born May 5th, 1944, Cam grew up in Indianapolis, IN, where she attended Thomas Carr Howe High School graduating in 1962. She majored in Sociology at Indiana University earning a B.A. in 1966. While studying at Indiana University, Cam met Stephen (“Steve”) Taylor of West Lafayette, IN and they married in 1969 and remained married for 27 years.

Cam and Steve then moved to Atlanta, GA for Steve to attend law school at Emory University while Cam pursued graduate studies at the University of Georgia earning a Master’s in Social Work in 1974. In the early years of Cam’s long and distinguished career, she worked as a social worker assisting needy families and individuals with psychiatric needs in Atlanta. She took time off from her full-time career upon the birth of her first child and was a stay-at-home mother to her three children for as long as was possible. She spent the bulk of her career (28 years) working as the Director of Health Policy for the Medical Association of Georgia (MAG), where she honed her skills as a health policy analyst and physician advocate gaining endless accolades and awards, including the MAG Non-Physician Distinguished Service Award in 2010.

Upon her retirement in 2013, Cam happily moved from Peachtree City to live with her daughter, Kay, and son-in-law, Jason Crist, in Bethesda, Maryland to be of service in the care of her grandchildren, Andrew and Grayson, for two years. Cam later returned to Peachtree City, where she spent the remainder of her retirement looking after her son, Patrick, and working part-time as a substitute teacher for the Fayette County Public School System, where she primarily taught special needs students. In keeping with her “Salt of the Earth” Midwestern roots, Cam’s work ethic was unparalleled, and she happiest when being of service to others.

Gifted with a beautiful soprano singing voice that was clear as a bell, Cam was also an accomplished pianist, and would love to sing in church and at home at her Baldwin piano. Musically, she was also highly versatile and could play a variety of styles at the piano from Rachmaninoff and Debussy to traditional Christian hymns, ballads, and even pop songs. Although she loved to play solo, her greatest pleasure was accompanying her children singing at the piano alongside her when they were young. Cam’s life was devoted to her children’s well-being above all else, and later to her grandchildren, who brought her unsurpassed joy. Cam was single-minded in providing her children with a safe, secure, and happy life even though it meant working full-time as a single mother and sacrificing or postponing many personal pursuits for much of their upbringing in order to accomplish this goal. Cam worked tirelessly yet joyfully, and was known to all as a reliable, trustworthy and loving parent and an exceptional professional. Cam lived according to her Christian faith, which guided her throughout her life. Jesus Christ was her North Star.

In retirement, Cam discovered New Hope Baptist Church, and took great joy in being a member of their church community, in particular the Book Club, and the Gift Class, and formed many deep friendships with her “spiritual family.” Apart from spending time with her family and friends, Cam was a lifelong learner and enjoyed delving into various subjects, on which she would develop expert knowledge, such as Biblical history, genealogy, horticulture among other topics. She was a brilliant conversationalist and a voracious reader, who could never resist curling up on the sofa with a good novel. The Shell Seekers by Rosamund Pilcher was one of her favorites.

Cam loved and appreciated beauty in all forms, from flowers and art to home design, and of course, fashion. All who knew her were acquainted with her enjoyment of wearing often colorful (she loved all shades of blue), tasteful and whimsical clothing and accessories. Mostly, she appreciated the beauty in people, however, and always looked for and would find ways to bring out the talents and special qualities in anyone she encountered. Cam had a great many talents herself, but would often underplay or underestimate them. In her younger years, she excelled at tennis and in her later years, she was a fiercely competitive bridge player. She was always open-minded and eager to try to new activities. Cam had dreams of traveling the world, and was thrilled to have the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Italy on a visit to see her daughter, Kay, when she was working abroad.

She is survived by her children, Chris Taylor of Santa Fe, NM, Patrick Taylor of Peachtree City, GA, and Kay Crist of Jupiter, FL; grandchildren, Zen & Henry Taylor of Santa Fe, NM and Grayson & Andrew Crist of Jupiter, FL; sisters, Cassandra Grayson of Atlanta, GA and Margaret Grayson of Richmond, IN; nephews, Ryan Tolnay of Ithaca, NY, Will Herring of Atlanta, GA, Jon Howard of Boulder, CO, and Brian Tam of Suwanee, GA; nieces, Alison Frazier of Dupont, IN,Tracy Howard of Miami, FL, and Kris Casey of Manitowoc, WI; and numerous cousins.

Preceding her in death were her mother and father, Shirley and George Grayson of Indianapolis, IN; her sister, Leila Grayson, of Cincinnati, OH; and former husband and father of her three children, Stephen Taylor of Augusta, GA.

A service of remembrance will be held at New Hope Baptist Church South Campus in Senoia, GA in the sanctuary on Thursday, January 13, 2022 at 4:00pm. The family will receive friends following the service in the church’s dining hall. Dinner will be served.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made to the charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.carmichaelhemperleypeachtree.com for the Grayson family.