Maria Grayson-Metaxas Obituary

Maria Grayson-Metaxas BERKELEY, CA - Maria Grayson-Metaxas, formerly Maria Ross Hanahan of Charleston, Isle of Palms, and Folly Beach, died peacefully on August 13th at her home in Berkeley, California, after a determined and inspiring two-and-a-half yearlong battle against colon cancer, with her devoted husband, Van, their beloved son, Satchi, and a circle of close friends and caregivers nearby. She was 51 years old. Maria was born on March 2, 1961, in Richmond, VA, the first child of Mr. and Mrs. W. O. Hanahan, Jr. She attended St. Catherine's School through fourth grade, and then Charleston Day School. She was the first honor graduate of the Class of 1979 at Ashley Hall School and graduated from Princeton University in Religion in 1983. She married Van Metaxas, formerly from Los Angeles, CA, and fellow Princeton grad, on April 18, 1988. They moved from Folly Beach to San Francisco and, after ten years, crossed the Bay to settle in Berkeley, where she and Van were blessed with the birth of their son, Liam "Satchi" Metaxas in 2002. Maria was a certified massage and movement therapist, and enjoyed surfing and the ocean, practicing yoga, hiking in the Sierras, and studying how to live more consciously in the body. She devoted herself to her family, friends, community, and spiritual teacher, Sri Mata Amritanan-damayi. In life, as in death, she inspired everyone whose life she touched by her spirit, inner strength, kindness, and dedication to cultivating presence and awareness. She is survived by her husband, Van, and son, Satchi, as well as many tireless and deeply loyal friends in Berkeley, and across California and the United States, who provided love and support until her last days. She is also survived by her mother Jane Pinckney deButts, formerly Jane Pinckney Hanahan of Charleston, and her stepfather, Wm. Hunter deButts, Jr., of Marshall, VA; her brother, W. O. Hanahan, III, his wife, Devon, and sons, Will and Thomas; and her sister, Anne Hanahan Blessing, husband, Bo, and children, Walter, Jane and Lydia, all of Charleston. Additionally, she is survived by stepsiblings and nieces and nephews from the deButts family of Virginia. She was pre-deceased by her maternal grandparents, Thomas and Charlotte Pinckney of Richmond, VA; paternal grandparents, W. O. Hanahan and Elizabeth Lucas Hanahan, both of Charleston; and her father, W. O. Hanahan, Jr., of Charleston. Arrangements are being made through Harris Funeral Home in Berkeley, CA. There will be a memorial service in California September 16th. Memorials may be sent to the M.A. Center at 10200 Crow Canyon Road, Castro Valley, CA 94522 or made online to https://www1.amma.org/donations/make-a-donation.html; Sutter VNA Hospice at 1900 Powell Street, Suite 300, Emeryville, CA 94608; or Satchi's Education Fund at "Van Metaxas, Trustee FBO Liam 'Satchi' Metaxas," 1517 Le Roy Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94708. Additionally, Maria requested that those who wish donate blood to their local blood bank or hospital. Maria's family will hold a service in Charleston in early October. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston