Floyd Fred Grayson Jr.'s Obituary
Floyd Fred Grayson Jr. was born on Wednesday, March 18,1942 in Washington, DC to Floyd Fred Grayson Sr. and Bessie Louise Hebron Grayson. He passed away peacefully on July 16, 2025, at his home in Annapolis, Maryland. The oldest sibling of three, Floyd and his sisters enjoyed their childhood in the nation’s capital. It was here where he established his love for music, athletics and played piano. In high school, Floyd was an officer in Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC), a member of the Boy Scouts of America, and ultimately achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Floyd was known for his warmth, humor, and ability to make everyone around him feel valued. His gentle and tenacious character, both innate and nurtured by his upbringing, was defined by his intellect, virtue, and charisma.
Academics was of the utmost importance to Floyd. In 1959, following his graduation from Spingarn High School in Northeast Washington he commenced to attain his ambition to attend the Naval Academy by attending Capital University in Columbus, Ohio where he excelled academically and earned the top rank in his ROTC class. Floyd’s time at Capital was an essential part in refining his confidence and sticktoitiveness which became an essential part of his persona.
Floyd then went on to attend the United States Naval Academy, the fulfillment of a childhood dream, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1965. His dedication, discipline, and leadership carried him from the Naval Academy to the United States Navy, where he honorably served as a Lieutenant (Junior Grade) from 1965 to 1969. He received the National Defense Service Medal for his service during the Vietnam War. It was here in Annapolis Maryland where Floyd developed his love of everything regarding the sea, the Chesapeake Bay and boating.
Following his tenure in the Navy, Floyd and his young family moved from Annapolis as well to different points around the country during this service to his country. He then moved the family to Boston, Massachusetts where they lived in order for him to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School, which he earned in 1972. Floyd then moved the family to Columbia, Maryland when he went into the corporate world where he worked for a local homebuilding company. Here he held several progressive and high-level positions, but when his bid to become the company’s chief operating officer didn’t materialize was the turning point where his long-term vision of owning and operating a successful homebuilding company was cemented.
Floyd then founded Grayson Homes, LLC, in 1975. The homebuilding company, based in Ellicott City, started building homes in Maryland’s Howard and Baltimore Counties until the company’s growth exploded and expanded into Carroll and Prince George's Counties as well as Pennsylvania. Floyd’s visionary leadership led Grayson Homes to receive numerous national housing quality and home building awards as well as growing to have the distinction of being the 6th largest Homebuilding company in the Region. Floyd served as Chief Executive Officer and was the architect of the success and direction of Grayson Homes until 1998, in which he then served as Chairman of The Board before his eventual retirement.
Floyd’s passions were music, his boat and the water. Over the years, Floyd loved good music, traveling, boating and fishing, eating crabs and spending time with his family and friends. He lived by the words of Edgar Albert Guest, embodied in how he showed up with love and encouragement for all of those he encountered. He was a member of St. Phillips’s Church in Annapolis and was instrumental in the construction of the church’s Family Life Center. And, earlier in life Floyd was instrumental in assisting a longtime friend, Pastor Kenneth Barney, Sr., with the planning and implementation of the New Antioch Baptist Church of Randallstown Maryland. Floyd was just that kind of guy.
A steadfast and caring father, grandfather, husband, brother, son, and friend: Floyd is survived by his sons Keith Floyd (Cheryl), Casey Bryant, and Chase Bryant Grayson; his step-son Nathan (Teri) Bryan; his granddaughters Camille, Alexandra, Autumn, and Kennedy Grayson; his two sisters, Julia Riley and Linda Arnold; and a host of nieces and nephews. He was previously married to Brenda Bryan Grayson and Cassandra Bryant Grayson; and later in life he shared time with his special friend, Arnicia Williams, who predeceased him.
A special thank you goes out to his amazing and dedicated caregivers Aiza Alcera, Yolanda Pineda, Mariela Pineda and Astrid Pineda.
A memorial service will be held on (Family Hour at 11:30am) at the Sanctuary at St. Phillips’s Episcopal Church in Annapolis, Maryland.
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