February 16 Caring Bridge
Monday, February 16, 2026
I know everyone has seen our news in other places, but an update here just for some detail and posterity.
Our sweet Grayson died peacefully on Thursday afternoon. We like to think that he chose exactly the moment he wanted. He had spent three days surrounded by the people he loves most laughing, telling stories about him, and breaking rules in the hospice house (thank you so much, Transitions Kids, for taking such good care of us and putting up with ALL of our shenanigans). He was snuggled in bed with all his favorite women, and his mom had JUST left for a walk, giving him the opportunity to make her panic one more time when she got the "come back now" call.
Transitions Hospice House invited us to participate in an "honor walk" on the way out of the house, so calls to Grayson's biggest fans began spidering out. The halls were packed with family, friends, coworkers, nurses, doctors, NC State athletes, social workers and at the head of the hall, Ms. Wuf. In typical Grayson fashion, we follow no rules but our own, so the entire crowd fell behind his escort to walk him out to the parking lot. We learned later that the CEO of Transitions was in the area for a meeting and stood in the parking lot directing traffic for Grayson's entourage, noting that they had never seen anything like it. Fire trucks arrived to flash their lights for him. Forever in my brain will be watching the driver's shock when he looked over his shoulder to see 50 people following behind him, Wolf Hands in the air, NC State flag flying.
Carter Finley was lit in his honor. A crowd gathered at the Belltower to commemorate him. The NC State Softball team wore ribbons in their hair during their tournament and ESPN spoke about his love for the team and the players. Beautiful tributes have been shared by the News and Observer and ABC11. We've all seen Grayson in small ways over the last few days; in a stray eyelash, a feather, an entire bird flying into a window while one of his women had the NERVE to talk about her new boyfriend... Grayson is with us all, and we're all ready for the little glimpses of him in the unexplained mischief around us. We'll carry his joy and his love forward, and we'll all work a little harder to love a little more. We hope everyone Grayson touched (literally or figuratively) remembers to live a little more like Grayson as well.
News and Observer Reel and Article- Grayson and Ms. Wuf
ABC11 Story- Belltower Vigil
In the immediate, we are trying to figure out how to move forward. We will plan a celebration of Grayson in the not too distant future and will share information when we decide on details. This will not be a funeral, it will be a party because Grayson loved nothing more than noise and chaos and laughter.
The best way to support Tim and Dianne at this moment is to keep reaching out. There will be days when they don't want to talk, there will be days they don't want visitors, but these days won't be forever and I hope the village Grayson has built continues to hold and love them. The MEALTRAIN link is still available either to drop off meals or support from afar with a gift card or grocery money for their bonus daughters to help fill meal gaps and stock the fridge and freezer. If you come to drop a meal and there is a red cooler on the porch, Tim and Dianne are needing a little space and would love for the meal to be dropped in the cooler for their retrieval later.
I cannot say enough times how much the support of everyone who has loved and been loved by Grayson means. It has carried us, it will continue to carry us in days to come, and it touches us every time we get to see one of the many many ripples his presence has created.
Love,
Grayson's Gang
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