About Payton Raulerson

Eric Raulerson is a retired Green Beret with 7th Special Forces Group and a former Military Free Fall Instructor. He is the Co-Founder of The Payton Emily Foundation and the father of Payton Emily. Please visit the page dedicated to Payton for more information about him and Payton. 

His hope for the foundation is to help other youth find their voice so they know they are not alone in their struggles and to help parents seeking any information. 

Melissa Raulerson is the Founder, Owner, and President of the Payton Emily Foundation. She also sits on the Board as Vice-President for Stage Crafters in Fort Walton Beach. More to come on local boards and her future endeavors. 

Melissa is the mother of Payton Emily, a Veteran herself, and has been married to Eric for 21 years. For more information on her and Payton, please visit the page dedicated to Payton.

Her hope for the foundation is to ensure Payton's light never burns out and that her name is never forgotten. She is determined to help Payton save lives and to turn this absolute tragedy into someone's saving grace.  

Sarah Young is the owner, founder, and Vice President of Autism Acres. She is also in a master's program to become a Clinical Mental Health Counselor. Her future counseling target focus will be aimed at children and teens.

Sarah has had the immense pleasure of knowing Melissa Raulerson for over 16 years. Through their friendship she has watched a beautiful family from afar grow, love, and now mourn a tremendous loss.

Military life took their families to opposite sides of the country, but she helped pray for that little girl before she was conceived and also help host her baby shower. She was loved before she had a name! 

She has the fond memory of always thinking not only does Payton look just like her father, but she has the personality and sarcasm to match. She made her and so many others laugh. She is missed and her memory will never be forgotten. 

Her desire for the Payton Emily Foundation is that someone, somewhere finds her story and finds hope, healing, and a desire to live again. That families who are facing a similar tragedy find solace in knowing they are not alone. And lastly, hope that Payton's light lives on by shedding a new spotlight on bullying and the impact it has on so many lives. That we would stand united to change the status quo around the lack of response regarding the ever growing issue of bullying and the devastation it creates. 

Sara is a mother of two daughters, and runs a cleaning company that serves the emerald coast.
Sara met Payton and her family in 2023 durning a production of Clue at stage crafters community theatre and they’ve been stuck together like glue since. They’ve spent many shows, vacations, holidays, and sleepovers since.
Sara’s hope for the foundation is that Payton’s name is heard, and her story is told through helping others that going through the same things

 Erin Munley is an artist and former daycare teacher with a deep passion for nurturing and advocating for children. In 2011, Erin met the Raulerson family when she became one of Payton’s infant teachers at just 12 weeks old. Over the years, their bond grew beyond the classroom—they became like family. Erin’s involvement with the foundation is rooted in love and purpose: to honor Payton’s memory, raise awareness about the rising rate of suicide among children and teens, and help end bullying through education, compassion, and community support. Erin is also the creator of the frog princess graphic which has become synonymous with Payton's name. She is working on a coloring book in her name to help raise awareness and also is our t-shirt designer. 

 Tracy Broxson is a devoted mother of two boys, an ESE Paraprofessional at a local elementary school, and a passionate advocate for kindness, inclusion, and mental health awareness. With over a decade of experience working with children, Tracy began her journey in early childhood education at Childcare Network, where she had the profound honor of caring for and building a lasting bond with Payton from infancy through her early childhood years.


As someone who watched Payton grow and become part of her extended family, Tracy carries her memory forward through a powerful mission: to bring awareness to the silent suffering many children face—especially due to fear of judgment or lack of safe spaces. Through her work and this foundation, she strives to create a world where love is embraced, kindness is championed, and bullying is never tolerated.


Tracy is committed to ensuring that every child knows they are seen, valued, and never alone. Her message is simple but deeply impactful: you always have a safe space to talk, and every word you share matters. #Paytonstrong 

 J. Matthew Heaney has been a Florida resident since he was 16, when his father retired from the Air Force and moved the family to Niceville.   A graduate of Niceville High School and Okaloosa Walton Community College, he has always had a creative spirit participating in band and pursuing Creative Writing.  It was through writing that Matthew was able to cope with his depression and thoughts of suicide that he had been dealing with since the age of 12.
In his early 20s, Matthew found another creative outlet in the persona of Madison Grayce Avenue.  Through drag and the local drag community, he found a safe place where he felt he belonged and accepted; he also discovered a passion for performing on stage.
Matthew joined Stage Crafters in 2018, where he found a new family providing a safe place, which would eventually include the Raulersons.  He quickly formed a bond with Payton who, besides being a fellow Gemini, reminded him a lot of himself at a young age.
Matthew's ability to blend diverse perspectives with thoughtful leadership makes them a powerful advocate for fostering creativity, inclusivity, and long-term impact. Whether shaping strategy or championing new projects, he brings passion, precision, and a touch of boldness to everything he does.

David, "The Dave" Goodfriend, was born and raised in Ames, Iowa. Dave joined the Air Force at 18 and was assigned as a Crew Chief to Hurlburt Field, Florida, as Crew Chief on the AC-130H.  A veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq, he left the USAF in 2011, first becoming a contracted aircraft mechanic, and later a senior aircraft mechanic instructor teaching new Airmen. 

Dave first met Payton in 2022 on the set of Clue.  But he and Payton really bonded while working as Assistant Stage Managers in 2023's production of Brighton Beach Memoirs at Stage Crafters in Fort Walton Beach. 

Dave is the creator of the telescope that sits as the headboard to Payton's new room while the family awaits the headstone. He also procured the green bench in her honor made of over 160 recyclable bottles that rests beside her grave so those who love her can safely have a seat and visit, work on lines, and just be there.

Joyce Germany-Grubb is a  mother to many kids that aren't hers, but she continues to open her home and heart to all those around. She has known the Raulerson family for going on 15 years. Being prior military herself, meeting Melissa and Eric was a blessing; she was adjusting to being a military spouse and Mel took her under her wing and has ever since. Payton, or Mija, as Mel called her, was her spotlight. She shined so bright. 

Joyce's hope for the foundation is to bring awareness to bullying and how we as a community can pull together to help children know they aren't alone and give them a safe space to be free to be themselves. Let them have a voice and believe in them. Let them flourish and shine bright. 

#PAYTONSTRONG #STANDUPSPEAKOUT