John Drayton Jr., husband of Mary Ellen Ragin Drayton, died Monday, July 28, 2014.
Born May 7, 1926, in Clarendon County, he was a son of the late John Drayton Sr. and Delia Mitchell Drayton. He was a lifelong member of Antioch AME Church. He attended Clarendon County public schools
Survivors besides his loving wife of 63 years include a devoted daughter, Emma Thomas of Sumter; a grandson, Tracy B. (Shakella) Alexander of Atlanta, Ga.; a granddaughter, Charletta (Teman) Darville of Glen Allen, Va.; eight great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Ruth Hampton and Edith Richardson, both of Pinewood; a brother, Irvin (Lue Ethel) Drayton of Pinewood; a son-in-law, Charles Adams; two brothers-in-law, Levi Black and Paul William Hill; five sisters-in-law, Betty Ruth (Truman) Gordon, Jannie Mae Felder, Sandy and Sandra McDonald and Mary (Willie) Bagley; and a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Geneva Drayton Adams; and six siblings.
Funeral services for John Drayton Jr. will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Antioch AME Church in Pinewood, with Pastor Earl Clark, Bishop Leroy T. James, Elder Warren Hatcher, the Rev. Rufus Gaymon, the Rev. William Green and the Rev. Richard A. McKnight officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home, 1547 Drayton McKnight Road in Pinewood.
Online memorials can be sent to comfhltj@sc.rr.com.
Community Funeral Home of Sumter is in charge of these arrangements.
