1930

Johnie Boyd Drakeford was born on 15 Jun 1930 a child of Gus Drakeford and Sallie Evans Drakeford.

1940

Johnnie Drakeford was counted in the census on 06 May 1940 in Flat Rock, Kershaw, South Carolina, USA, as a 9-year-old, male, single, Black or African American, son. Also in the home were; his father, Gus Drakeford; his mother, Sallie Drakeford; his siblings, Broadman Drakeford, Evans Drakeford, Gussie Lee Drakeford, and Sallie Mae Drakefordl; and his maternal grandmother, Ameila Evans.

1953

When he was 23, he married Estella Champion, on 09 Sep 1953.

2025

On May 3, 2025, Johnie Boyd Drakeford was mentioned as the living father in the obituary of Gwendolyn Drakeford Moorer.

He died on 17 Dec 2025. He was buried on 03 Jan 2026 in Camden, Kershaw, South Carolina, USA at Sanders Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

Johnie Boyd Drakeford Obituary

Johnie Boyd Drakeford, 95, entered into the arms of an all-wise and all-knowing God on December 17, 2025. He was born on June 15, 1930, to the late Gus and Sallie Evans Drakeford in Kershaw, South Carolina.

Johnie received his education from the public schools in Kershaw County. He served in the United States Army for 2 years, and was a Korean War Veteran, touring from 1951-1953. He was Honorably Discharged on August 13, 1953. Following, he worked for the New York City Mass Transit for 23 ½ years maintaining trains to ensure safety. During his time in NY, he also worked as a security guard in the Bronx, NY and for Ward Bakery Company as a foreman over the porters for 8 years, and as a taxi driver for the city of NY. Johnie did whatever it took to provide for his family. He worked two and three jobs at a time, if necessary.

Johnie met the love of his life, Estella Champion and they were united in Holy Matrimony on September 9, 1953.

While in New York, the family joined Mount Sinai Pentecostal Holiness Church, where they found a higher calling in salvation and received sanctification and the gift of the precious Holy Ghost. Johnie was a faithful member of Mt. Sinai for over 30 years. He was a dedicated and loyal Deacon for over 25 years and was also an extraordinary Sunday School Teacher who loved studying the Word of God.

In 1988, Johnie and Estella retired to their hometown of Camden, South Carolina, and joined Christian Fellowship Tabernacle, where he was a faithful and dedicated member on the Deacon Board. He later moved to Douglasville, Georgia, where he resided with his loving and caring granddaughter, Leah Galbreath, and her family. Later, he relocated to Pine Knolls Nursing Home, where he lived out the remainder of his life.

Deacon Johnie Drakeford will forever be loved and missed dearly by his children, Johnnie B. Drakeford, Jr. of McKenney, Virginia and Robin (Darnel) Parks of Longwood, Florida; seven wonderful grandchildren, Dennis G. Moorer of Greenville, SC, Christine D. Drakeford of Plainfield, New Jersey, Naomi D. (Brian) Childs of Ocoee, Florida, Leah M. (Shaquell) Galbreath of Douglasville, Georgia, Jonathan P. Parks of Sanford, Florida, Jared D. Drakeford of Plainfield, New Jersey and Emmanuel Moorer of Camden, South Carolina; fifteen precious great grandchildren; one dear brother-in-law Thomas (Carolyn) Champion of Rosedale, New York; two loving sisters-in-law, Verlie (Joseph) Cunningham of Floral Park, New York, Patricia Champion of Bronx, New York; one eternal son-in-law, Dennis Moorer of Atlanta, Georgia; two eternal daughters-in-law, Deborah P. Drakeford of Plainfield, New Jersey and Carolyn H. Drakeford of Richmond, Virginia and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and his loyal church families in New York, South Carolina and Georgia.

The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Sanders Creek Baptist Church in Camden, South Carolina.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at the church on Saturday.