Ralph Hammerly Drawdy

Ralph Hammerly Drawdy, 82, of 2648 Hillcrest, NE, Orangeburg, SC died on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at his home surrounded by his family.

The funeral will be at 3:00pm, on Sunday March 24th, 2013 at Northside Baptist Church with Dr. Shane Stutzman and the Reverend Jim Parnell officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, Orangeburg, South Carolina. Pallbearers are Carl Butler, friend; Matthew Lawson, nephew; Jimmy Lane, friend; Tom Salley, friend; Steven Drawdy, nephew and Larry Myers, friend. Honorary Pall Bearers are the Cornerstone Sunday School Class of Northside Baptist Church and the men of the Biddie Banquet Round Table.

Mr. Drawdy was born on April 26, 1930 in Orangeburg County, the son of the late Aquilla Fulton Drawdy and Flossie Ayers Drawdy. He was a member of Northside Baptist Church and the Cornerstone Sunday School Class. Mr. Drawdy graduated from Orangeburg High School. He was a detective and a city policeman, with the City of Orangeburg. He owned and operated an Esso and Shell Station as well as served in the United Stated Army. He retired from the SC Correctional System. He enjoyed dirt track racing, NASCAR, fishing, gardening, bird watching, spending time with and talking about his granddaughters. He could usually be found in the mornings drinking his hot tea with the Men of the Round Table at Biddie Banquet. He was also a previous member of The Optimist Club, The Jaycees, a past Commander of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Orangeburg Sportsman Club and a member of the American Legion.

He was predeceased by three brothers, Charles F. Drawdy, Kenneth E. Drawdy and Vernon Jensen Drawdy; two sisters, Iris Drawdy Lohan and Jewel Drawdy Chavis.

Survivors include his wife, of 61 years, Ellen Mizzell Drawdy, of Orangeburg; One daughter, Christina Drawdy (David) Kitchings of Orangeburg and two granddaughters, Hannah Kitchings (Martin) Till of Lexington and Rachel Lauren Kitchings of Orangeburg; two sisters, Bonnie Drawdy Shearer of Walterboro and Sandra Drawdy Courie of Columbia; and one brother, Phil Drawdy of Vance, and a number of Nieces and nephews. Friends may call at the residence and at the funeral home. Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2013 from 6:00-8:00pm at Thompson Funeral Home, Inc. in Orangeburg.

We would like to thank the H. Phil Mabry Center for Cancer Care, the personnel at the Regional Medical Center PCU, Grove Park Hospice, Mrs. Dianne Franklin, Mrs. Lilly Sowell and Elise Jamison for their care and concern during this time. Memorials can be made to the Youth Ministry of Northside Baptist Church, 1250 Columbia Road, Orangeburg, S.C. 29115