Mae "Dee Dee" Francis Grayson

Mae Francis “Dee Dee” Woodfork was born February 1, 1962 to Reverend Jesse Woodfork and Rosie Mae (Island) Woodfork in Seminole, Oklahoma. She attended Seminole High School where she was an outstanding basketball player who graduated with the class of 1980. In November of 1981, she welcomed son Jesse. She continued her basketball career at Southwestern Oklahoma State University winning an NAIA championship with her teammates in 1983. While at SWOSU, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in business education which she utilized in her position as the executive assistant to the director at the National Center for Employee Development for the USPS.

On September 30, 1989 she married Jerry Grayson in Moore, Oklahoma. The couple made their home in Norman, Oklahoma and were blessed with six children. Dee Dee was active in the church from a young age. She was baptized in 1968 and became a member of Galilee Baptist Church where her late grandfather J.E. Woodfork was the pastor. Over the years she sang in the choir, became a choir director, led a marriage counseling ministry with Jerry, and served as an Approved Workers Are Not Ashamed (AWANA) club leader. Because Dee Dee and Jerry opted to home school their children, she was their teacher. She taught other children on Thursdays for the Central Oklahoma Alliance of Christian Home schoolers as well. As her children got older, her focused shifted to women’s health and she became a postpartum doula. Dee Dee enjoyed traveling, watching sports, reading, drawing, and helping others. She loved to sing too. Although her passion was caring for babies and advocating for mothers, nothing was as important to her as spending time with her family members and friends. Dee Dee lived an active life, sharing her vibrant personality with many people.

On Tuesday March 4, 2025 she went to be with her Lord and Savior at the age of 63. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister Karoletta Woodfork, and her brother Kevin Woodfork. Left to cherish her memory are her husband Jerry Grayson; children Jesse Woodfork (Tish), Jerece Grayson, JaLeisa Grayson, Jade Grayson, Jerry Grayson II (Juanae), Joshua Grayson, and Josiah Grayson; grandchildren Luke, Jhad, Jerry III, and Jesselle; siblings Freda Woodfork, Sam and Kellye Woodfork, Karla Woodfork Pitre, Koretta and Brian McArthur, and Kozetta Chapman; one uncle Oscar Island (Bobbie), and great-aunt Earnscelle Shelton along with a host of other family members and friends.

Services are scheduled for 11 AM Saturday March 15, 2025 at Crosspointe Church in Norman, Oklahoma under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma.