Thoughts from the family...
What would Grandma Layton say about having the Elizabeth Layton Center for Hope and Guidance named after her?

Judy Russell Lewis, granddaughter
If Grandma were here, she probably ... wouldn't be here. Grandma never liked the limelight; she always let other people bask in her glow. And, if the Elizabeth Layton Center can be successful in showing one person how to lift themselves out of the dark, Grandma will be smiling, somewhere.

Kurt Layton, grandson
When I first saw one of my Grandmother's drawings as a young child, I can remember not being overly impressed with its artistic nature. The drawing was not "beautiful" in the traditional sense of the word. In fact, it frightened me a little. I believe she titled the drawing "The Void", describing her feelings following the death of her son. But the longer I looked at the drawing, the more the honesty came out of that drawing. My Grandmother did not draw Rembrandt's or Monets - she drew what was inside her. She drew what she was feeling. Sometimes it would be a drawing that would make you laugh. And sometimes it would be a drawing that would make you sad. But it was always a drawing that would make you think. It wasn't always pretty or picturesque. It was honest, and in that honesty was where you found the beauty.
My grandmother suffered from depression for many years before she discovered art therapy. Through a lot of her work, she wanted people with mental health disorders to get help without being ashamed. My grandmother would be very excited at the events of today, not because we are naming something after her, but because it is bringing attention to a cause that she felt strongly about.

Laura Layton McFarland
In thinking about Grandma, and what she would think about this honor of having her name put on the facility, my first thought was simply this: She would be more excited about the words, "Hope and Guidance", than the fact that her name is on it. It's not that she would not be appreciative, that's just how Grandma was. She wanted the attention elsewhere. And she wanted it to be on other people.
There are many times I can recall growing up where Grandma demonstrated this to me, though at the time, I admit I didn't know that I realized it. She was just being Grandma.
I loved it when she would come to our house in the morning, and she'd picked blackberries off the vine, then bring them back that afternoon in the form of homemade blackberry cobbler and jelly!
I remember her helping me with my Poppy poster that we all did in the 4th grade for the American Legion. Prize was $1, but everyone got a dime for participating. Grandma listened while I told her my ideas, then she gave me some suggestions on how to draw it out on the poster. Though I was secretly hoping she would draw it, she didn't. She made sure I did it myself. That made me feel good. She thought I COULD do it!
Once I brought some friends home from college. Upon leaving early on a Sunday morning to go back, we discovered in the front seat of my roommate's car a pan of HOT homemade cinnamon rolls. They were so amazed that she had thought to do that, and were thrilled with the delectable treat to carry us the four-hour drive back to school! I was so proud she had thought enough of me and my friends to do that for us.
Did you know that in Florence, Alabama, there was a time in the 90's where freshmen could either take Psychology 101 or a course called Grandma Layton? One of my friends, who is also an artist, and was always very excited to hear about Grandma, found out about the class from her son, who was a student there.
I could give you SO many stories and thoughts. The one's I've shared I hope have given you some insight into the everyday life of my Grandma as I remember her. With all her talents and abilities, what she did was give hope and guidance in so many every day ways. That's just who she was. So the fact that her name is attached to those two words - Hope and Guidance - on this facility, well, I think she'd be tickled and pleased!

Kathy Beth Russell Tracy, granddaughter
I believe Grandma Layton would be humbled and honored. I will never forget, sitting at her kitchen table talking about Franklin County Mental Health Center and Grandma said, "That kind of help kept me alive until I could find contour drawing.
I know that my life is not the only one that's been touched, strengthened and healed because of her courage to reach out and accept the help you had to offer - and by her resolve to help others find that hope, too.
In Grandma's Morning Glory picture, they have printed her quote: "All glory comes from daring to begin." below the picture. It will be a great comfort in this community to have a place like the Elizabeth Layton Center to inspire hope and courage to those daring to begin their journey to glory.