Georgia Lee Layton CAMBRIDGE - Georgia Lee Layton, of Cambridge, went from labor to eternal reward on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010, at Chesapeake Woods Nursing Center in Cambridge, Md. Born July 14, 1932, in Accomac, Va., to the late Lena Young Strand and Thomas Strand, Georgia moved to Cambridge as a child and has been a resident of Cambridge for the remainder of her life. She attended the Pine Street School and was a graduate of St. Clair High School, Class of 1949. Georgia developed lifelong friendships with a core group within the Class of 1949 including Monroe and Sylvia Smith, Loretta Young and Parthenia Gosley affectionately called "The 5 Musketeers" by her sister Alice Thompson, This group of friends was truly, in the terms of the younger generations, BFFs, Best Friends Forever. Nothing and nobody could ever divide this group of friends, even though some tried. Georgia spent many years working to serve people through the way she lived her life and her over 30 years of employment with the State of Maryland. For more than 20 years, she worked for the Maryland Job service as an Outreach Worker and a Farm Labor Specialist in Talbot, Caroline and Dorchester Counties. During her tenure, she was known and respected for her dedication to farm workers by growers, community agencies and the communities that she served. She also served on the Maryland State Council for a number of years where she was a true advocate and worked diligently to assure that farm workers received the best help possible. Upon her retirement in 1996, she continued her passion by agreeing to join the governing board of Telamon Corporation, an organization that supports employment, training and other emergency needs of farm workers. Georgia was a valued Governing Board Member from 1997 through 2008 during which time she continued to advocate for the needs of farm workers by visiting labor camps and supporting the local Telamon office in all of its endeavors. Serving on a Board of Directors of a corporation like Telamon was symbolic of the way in which Georgia lived her life. She would help anyone who was trying to help themselves. She gave to others unselfishly and generously. She saw the good in everyone. She will be truly missed by Telamon and the farm workers that she served. Georgia was an active member of the Prince Hall Masonic family. Her masonic affiliations include: Past Matron of Oziel Chapter #25 Myra Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star; Past Loyal Lady Ruler of John H. Jones Jr. Assembly #284 Order of the Golden Circle; Past Commandress of Abu la hab Court #189 Daughter of Isis Oasis of Salisbury Desert of Maryland. Georgia loved her Masonic family and enjoyed participating in the activities and charitable endeavors they participated in. Georgia loved to sew and she loved to travel. Georgia was known as a wonderful seamstress who sewed not only for her family but for others as well. She was such a great seamstress that members of the community would hire her to sew for them. After her children left home, Georgia was able to explore her love for travel. She traveled as much and as often as she could, traveling internationally to places like Germany and Paris. She also traveled extensively throughout the continental United States. Even when Georgia became ill, she would summons her faithful friend and traveling buddy, Lillie Magee, to go on yet another trip. Above all, Georgia loved her family and has left a wonderful legacy for them to cherish and emulate. She devoted her life to her children and loved spending time with them when they were young. As her children grew older, she loved the time when they and their families came to visit. Georgia loved spending time with her grandchildren as they were very special to her. So much so that she always wanted them to come to Cambridge to spend weeks with her in the summers so she could spoil them and send them home. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William James Layton, Sr.; a son, William "Billy" James Layton, Jr.; and a sister, Pearlena Humaine. She is survived by her sisters, Alice Thompson, Thelma Hollis and Ruth Price; brother, Edgar Strand; sons, Bruce Layton (Helen), Lionel Layton (Katherine); daughters, Velma Shipp (Michael), Davette Askins (Gregory), Janice Ausby (Franklin); daughter-in-law, Olga Layton; grandsons, Brandon Finney, Teekarai Layton, Gregory Askins, Jr., Franklin Ausby; granddaughters, LaTadra Layton, Alicia Ausby, Kieya Layton, Kayla Layton, Ashley Ausby, Tenesha Askins, Michelle Shipp; great-grandsons, Vinci Layton, Brandon Finney, Kristiano Layton; nieces, Regina Humaine, Charlaine Strand Jackson; nephews, Albert Young, Barry Young; longtime friends Shirley Greene, Monroe Smith, Sylvia Smith, Loretta Young, Lillie Magee, Betty Brice, Parthenia Gosley and others; and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, at Bethel AME Church, 623 Pine St., Cambridge, with a viewing Friday evening 6 to 7 p.m. followed by Masonic Services and one hour viewing Saturday prior to the services. Interment will be in Bethel Cemetery. Condolences sent to www.henryfuneralhomepa.com.