On December 17, 2017, the Founder, Melissa Grady-Lyde of Healing Wings Foundation lost her brother Lieutenant Ira Otis Grady, Jr (North Carolina State Highway Patrol) who passed away due to a cardiovascular condition known as Aortic Dissection (AD). He was the son of Retired Sergeant Major Ira Otis Grady (USMC), Sr. and Constance Grady. He graduated with the class of 1990 from White Oak High School in Jacksonville, NC. He also graduated from Fayetteville State University (class of 1994); where he met and later married the love of his life; Sheree Grady. Lt. Ira Otis Grady, Jr. was also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.