ORANGE CITY, Fla. – Dozens of people gathered Thursday night, many wearing pink — a color loved by Nicole Grayson — as they struggled to process the tragedy that unfolded just days earlier.
According to those who attended, Grayson’s 4-year-old son fell into the St. Johns River at Ed Stone Park. Grayson immediately went into the water and helped save him, but she did not survive.
One woman, Kris Perone, said she has children and grandchildren and could not imagine doing anything different in that moment.
“It hurts to see that because I would do exactly the same thing she did,” Perrone said. “I would jump right in.”
Perrone said she is a close friend of Grayson’s mother, and that people who knew Grayson understood how deeply she loved her children.
As balloons floated into the sky, grief and admiration mixed for many who came to pay their respects.
“One thing about it, she didn’t play about her kids. If you know, you know.”
The balloon release served as a final tribute — honoring a mother’s sacrifice and the love she had for her family.