LaCona Grayson

LaCona Janay Grayson, 40, transitioned from her earthly home to her heavenly home on, October 18, 2021, at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. She was born on, September 13, 1981, in Kansas City, Missouri to Clifford Johnson and Levetta Grayson.  Levetta and LaCona relocated to Atlanta, Georgia in 1989.  Levetta remarried and LaCona was raised by James and Levetta Stegall.  LaCona was educated in the Atlanta Public School System. LaCona graduated from South Atlanta High School and matriculated at Albany State and Kennesaw State Universities.  LaCona worked as a Certified Pharmacy Tech for several years before pursuing her purpose and passion of helping others live better lives.  LaCona began writing and pursed a career in life coaching ultimately settling on Psychology. 

LaCona became a foster mother to several girls, Zion, Selena, Destiny, Amaria, Klye, Amayla, Nya, and Aburie.

LaCona helped others in various ways through each season of her life. Her first assignment was as an afterschool teacher for the Cobb County school system and GED Instructor.  Her service to others did not stop there.  She began to hit the community running and helping in so many valuable ways. With the leadership of her mentor, Catina Taylor, she began “Activate Your Evolution” – Girls Leadership & Empowerment Program; this is where she hosted sessions for girls in the community and Hickman Mills School District.  She launched KC Black Foster Families as an advocacy & educational program for black people who were fostering kids of color in the foster care system.  She began her podcast, Authentic Audacity and Ms. Janay, where she encouraged women to be their authentic selves no matter what that looked like.  She participated in a group called, Unexpected Smiles, where she sent random gifts to women in the group just to brighten their day.  She partnered with several area organizations like, iMatter Experience, Giving Hope & Help, Dreams KC, and GEW (Global Entrepreneurship Week).  She gave toiletries to the homeless & items for the winter and ran numerous “back to school programs” where she gave school supplies and backpacks to the kids in the community.  She was working as a consultant with Foster Adopt Connect to diversify their staff.

LaCona grew up in the church and became a Christian at a young age. Though not perfect, she was genuine and gave her all in a loving manner to the best of her ability.  LaCona grew up in church beginning with her uncle Bishop James Lewis and First Lady Fannie Lewis of the Church of Christ Pentecostal. She also attended Lindsey Street Baptist Church (A Motley), Word of Faith Family Cathedral (Bishop Dale C. Bronner), and Deliverance Temple Church of God in Christ (Elder Wilbur L Smith).

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Byrd Grayson, Francis Olivia Johnson, Clifford Johnson, and Sarah Frances Stegall; her beloved aunts, Linda Kay Grayson, and Yvonne Davis; her uncles, Charles Grayson, John Wayne, Steve Stegall, Billy Stegall, and Harold Mitchell; her cousins, Tyrell Grayson, Michael Holmes, and Mason Grayson, an uncle; and Towanna Strong; and her good friend, Gracie Otuwa.

She 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 (Kelly Powell), Shatoya Johnson, Sharon Johnson, Lucretia Stegall, Camilla Stegall, Jamillah Milligan, Venus Mills, and Cortney Jo Sandidge, and Jacquelyn Sullivan; and two other brothers, Reginald London, and Amiri Hornsby; her aunties, Dorothy, Wanda, Beverly (Bobbie Brown), Aretha, Karen, and Josie (Jerry Ivory), aunt LaConna-name’s sake (Rick Killings), 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.  

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