Taylor Mason gets up about 3 o’clock each morning then drives for about 45 minutes from her home in Gloucester County to a deadrise workboat across the James River to tong for oysters.
That’s a new experience for Mason. Until her husband Peyton’s unexpected passing in June, she was primarily the land-based partner in their young business, the Virginia Oyster Co. Since then, Taylor Mason, who is 25 and the mother of two young daughters, does it all.
After local photographer Mike Fontaine heard about the family’s story through Facebook, he wanted to help out. His photography is a passion and an advocacy for watermen. Fontaine teamed up with the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum to raffle one of his photographs to benefit the family. Recently three cash prizes were added to the raffle.
Peyton Mason was a full-time fisherman from age 21 and wanted to own his own processing facility. The couple used their savings to start the business in 2022. He managed the boats and crews and she ran day-to-da...