Who was Joyce Grayson? GoFundMe raises over $37K for beloved Connecticut nurse killed while she was visiting a patient
WILLIMANTIC, CONNECTICUT: Joyce Grayson, a 63-year-old behavioral health nurse from Connecticut, was found dead in a halfway house for sex offenders in Willimantic on October 28. She had been conducting an in-home visit with a registered sex offender.
Grayson was not only a mother of six but also a committed foster parent and a highly skilled nurse known for her deep passion for caring for others.
After graduating from Windham Tech as a Licensed Practical Nurse, she worked at various locations for the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). After retiring from DMHAS, she worked for Elara Caring until her tragic death.
The Willimantic police found her body after getting a call on October 28 afternoon as she missed many appointments and no one was able to reach her.
Joyce Grayson's obituary celebrates her life
Grayson's obituary on the Tillinghast Funeral Home's website describes the late nurse as someone with a 'glowing demeanor and infectious smile'.
Grayson is survived by a large family, including her husband, Ronald Grayson, six children, their spouses, four grandchildren, and eleven siblings.
She also served as a foster parent for the State Department of Children and Families from 2002 to 2021. During this period, she provided "love and care to 35 children," said Vannessa Dorantes, commissioner of the state Department of Children and Families. She and her husband were awarded Foster Parent of the Year in 2017.
"She treated her foster children as her own," said Grayson's obituary. "She always made each and every child part of her family. Joyce was a beautiful soul who dedicated her life to caring for others. She loved her job as a mental health nurse, and it was truly what she was put on this earth to do. She passed away doing what she loved."
Over $37K raised for Joyce Grayson
Grayson's family friend Jessi Bessette has organized a 'GoFundMe' fundraiser to support the nurse's family and their needs.
As of November 5 morning, it has raised close to $38K in 5 days.
"Joyce went above and beyond for her patients. She always went the extra step to make her patients feel loved and cared for," says the GoFundMe page.
Suspect arrested for Joyce Grayson's murder
Based on the GPS locator data from Grayson's phone, her last known location was the 100 block of Chapman Street, where she had an appointment scheduled at 8 am on October 28 with a 38-year-old named Michael Carlos Reese.
Upon investigation, police found her red 2023 Hyundai Sonata near the halfway house.
The police dog helped locate Reese. The police took him into custody and later found Grayson's body in the basement.
The housing is part of a Re-Entry Assisted Community Housing (REACH) in Willimantic.
Based on court documents obtained by NBC Connecticut, Reese is the primary suspect in the murder and is a registered sex offender 'with violent tendencies'.