Dorothy (Talley) Drafts

Dorothy Talley Drafts, loved many and was loved by many.  Her sunny personality and quick wit was very winning. She was born in Richmond, VA to the late Deacon John Ernest & Mother Caroline Blackwill Talley on May 2, 1929.  She was the youngest daughter of eight children who graduated from Armstrong High School in Richmond and furthered her education in the nursing profession at the Medical College of Virginia.

Reared in a God-fearing home by her parents, she received Christ as Savior and was baptized under the pastorate of Bishop Williams C. Clements at St. John’s United Holy Church of America.  She was an active member who participated in Sunday School, sang alto with the Senior Choir and participated in the Kitchen Ministry.  Usually, she served with her two sisters, Mary Powell and Nellie Turner; you never saw one without the other two.  She was a dedicated usher and nurse and often served the bishops and pulpit ministers.  As a member of St. John’s she served under the pastorates of Dr. James A. Forbes and Rev. Tyler C. Millner.  She also served in several offices in the Tidewater Sub-District, the Virginia District Convocation, and was an usher and nurse with the General Department of Ushers and Nurses of UHCA.

Dorothy married Charles W. Drafts on April 8, 1961 and shared the parenting of Beverly and Nelson Drafts.  Professionally, she managed several realty properties, co-managed parking lots with her husband and was a Practical Nurse at MCV.

She had a gift of hospitality, and her home was ALWAYS open to travelers, where you could get a plate of potato salad, fried fish and homemade rolls.

On May 27, 2021, she returned to her eternal home with God the Father.  She was welcomed by her parents, and her brothers and sisters: John Jack Talley, Bishop Thomas Edison Talley, Mary Elizabeth Powell, Elnora Dunlap, Andrew Bernard Talley, Nellie Turner, and Elder James Talley.

Her survivors are:  her loving and devoted husband Charles W. Drafts; her bonus children, Beverly and Nelson Drafts as well as Savannah Upshaw and Nancy Upshaw.

Additionally, she is survived by numerous nephews & nieces, grand & great-grand nieces & nephews, many neighbors and friends.

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