George's Swiss-German immigrant ancestor (Jacob Drafts) arrived in Charleston in 1744 at age 32, and he was scalped and killed at age 47 by the Cherokee Indians in 1760 in present-day Lexington County.
George was born at their home when they lived across from present-day Lexington High School on Hwy #378. He was named "George" after his daddy & "Marion" after his daddy's very good quail-hunting friend Dr. Marion Wyman. As a boy, Uncle Darby Drafts nick-named him "Booby"...in the family & church and school George was known by all as "Booby" Drafts. He was baptized young.
As eldest son, he and his father butted heads more & more the older he got. George entered Lexington public schools with the class of 1959 (had he graduated). But he ran off with the rodeo from Love Valley, N. C. at about age 16 (1955/56), an 8th grader, and became a western cowboy in Wyoming. Dennis Phillips (probably about 92 in summer 2019 & with dementia) was like a 2nd father to him out west (Dennis now in Window Rock, Arizona); and George told me in summer 2019, "He was a true cowboy". Dennis had a brother in Clarinda, Iowa; & George boarded with him, his wife & his daughter for about 6-18 months. 8/8-10/2019 George to Ervin: "Dennis had a brother in Clarinda, Iowa that I lived with Dennis' brother and wife for 6-18 months & their sister was there and a 'hottie pants', & I later heard that she'd had a baby boy and was possibly mine. I often think about that and wonder if he was mine and, if so, what became of him." After several years, George's parents located him & told him he had 2 choices: Army or Air Force. Though deathly afraid of flying, he chose Air Force and was first stationed at Lackland AFB in San Antonio & then another Texas station and did rodeos on the weekends. In May 2020, it was disclosed that his disappearance from Love Valley had the FBI searching for him for vagrancy and truancy, and they found him in Deming, New Mexico and brought him back home. After hearings of some sort, he was given the choice of serving time in juvenile justice or join the Air Force.
On returning to S. C. either when brother Everette died (1971) or when sister Ann married (1961), he introduced the western paint horse into the horse show competitions in S. C. He would later be the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from The American Paint Horse Association.
First & foremost, George was a man's-man cowboy. Years ago, he also had a commercial chicken farm near his home on Darby Ambrose Road where he was a horse breeder & trainer, and he ran a large horse-boarding operation (The Horse Motel) while also being a welder and heavy equipment operator and then shifting way more into being a cattle rancher at where he and Saundra eventually located, known as Ox Bow Ranch (on Old Chalk Bed Road in Lexington County). For a short time, they owned a ranch in New Mexico.
He and Saundra became members of Steadman Baptist Church near Batesburg-Leesville. On Nov. 29th, 2015, he was re-baptized & Saundra baptized at Steadman by Pastor Raymond Truett (see photo).
After some health issues beginning almost 2 years ago, he was burned in a memorable hay-bale-hauling incident on Old Chalk Bed Road & at the ranch. In late summer of 2018, George had an emergency surgery. A few days post-op, there was a near-fatal septic-shock complication. George later told me (as I was inquiring along the lines of whether he'd had a dear-death-experience), "I saw the 'other side' and , Doc, it was totally peaceful." He was slowly recovering at home since this summer; & he had supper and went to bed. Saundra checked on him about 10:30PM, and he died peacefully shortly afterward...on the very same date of the month that his older sister had died 4 years prior!
He first married Bobbie Cox in 1961, and their children are Michael & Christy whose mother is deceased. Additionally, he is survived by his wonderful wife of 33 years, Saundra Johnson Drafts. Prior to his death, he was known as "dad" or "Poppa" to his children and grandchildren who dearly loved him and as Uncle George to nieces & nephews.
****************
Here are some postings or texts from some who admired George:
(1) Mark Hollis: Mr. George was an awesome man with a kind soul. When you look up cowboy in the dictionary, there's a picture of him.
(2) Amy Lee Drafts: I am so incredibly sorry. Such a great loss for your family! He impacted the life of EVERYONE he met! Always with open arms and an open heart. Prayers for your family! And yes, Papa was the Last Real Cowboy.
(3) Lexington Co. Coroner, Margaret Fisher: George Drafts will forever be the strongest man I have ever known! Jesus welcomed him home last night! Heaven gained a "real" cowboy! He is now healed and riding broncs in heaven! I love you George Drafts. Forever in our hearts!! You were one of a kind!!
(4) Beth Jackson Wilcoxson: In memory of George Drafts, a man who taught me how to train and show horses as a young girl that carried forward in my adult life, along with all the other lessons learned In regards to everything about farming and tending to cattle and so many more life lessons. Most definitely a great man and teacher. The one picture I posted here is one of him and his daughter Christy and one of his son Michael. All of these were just wonderful times. George will be truly missed.
(5) Woody Elders (summer of 2019): I know a Real Legend. He is the last Cowboy. I have never met a man like this man. He showed me how tough you can be even at 80. I got a chance to tell him how much I thought of him while he laid in the hospital bed (for a month then). As he laid there I told him how much I respected him as well as everyone that got the chance to know him.I informed all the nurses who he was. A Legend! They had no idea. To them he was just a patient. When I got done telling them about this Great man and who they were dealing with, they all perked up. On the other end of life people probably won't know who or what you have done in life. This saddens me. Life is full of great lessons. I told him he was the toughest man I have ever known. He said, "I used to be". Please say a prayer for Mr. George Drafts. The Last Real Cowboy.
***********
OBITUARY:
George Marion Drafts, 80, of Batesburg, passed away on Friday November 22, 2019. Born in Lexington County on March 21, 1939, he was the son of the late George Bell and Lallah Lindler Drafts, and the husband of 33 years to Saundra Lee Drafts. George was a member of Steadman Baptist Church in Leesville, SC. He was a lifelong rancher, and his greatest passion was always his horses and cows. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Paint Horse Association.
In addition to his wife, George is survived by his son, George Michael Drafts; daughters, Ada Christien " Christy" Drafts, Karen L. Goff Daniels, and Dawn E. Goff Ford; sisters, Betty Drafts Shaw, Brenda Drafts Speer, and Trudy Drafts Wales; as well as nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Everett Drafts; a sister, Ann Drafts Koch; and an infant son.
A memorial service will be held at 1pm on Tuesday, November 26th at Steadman Baptist Church, 1011 North Edisto Road, Leesville, SC 29070, with Rev. Bill Padgett officiating. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall at the church immediately following the service.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the grandchildren who assisted George in running and maintaining the farm during his later years.
*************
11/26/2019 CELEBRATION of LIFE SERVICE:
Pastor Bill Padgett first noted that, this summer, George had told him, "If I don't make it out of the hospital alive, don't make any service about me...make it about Jesus." His comments continued to the great appreciation of all present as the focus was on Jesus. The church was packed (standing room only) with friends & kin, many dressed at least partly in cowboy or rodeo clothes & boots. Pastor Bill started off with the witnessing that both he and I had heard George say simply that he'd seen the other side. Pastor noted that the first Sunday George attended church after the long hospitalization, George & Saundra went to their Sunday School class & George told them about seeing the other side. During the services, Saundra's friend, Ann Lockaby, did amazing renditions of "Stroll Over Heaven With You" , "Cowboy Rides Away", and "Far Side Banks of Jordan". Rocky Gunter ended with his rendition of "I'll Fly Away". Then everyone went to the fellowship center where the family had memorabilia for all to view and food and time for visiting and sharing memories. This was a unique celebration, and I think George would have approved!
George was born at their home when they lived across from present-day Lexington High School on Hwy #378. He was named "George" after his daddy & "Marion" after his daddy's very good quail-hunting friend Dr. Marion Wyman. As a boy, Uncle Darby Drafts nick-named him "Booby"...in the family & church and school George was known by all as "Booby" Drafts. He was baptized young.
As eldest son, he and his father butted heads more & more the older he got. George entered Lexington public schools with the class of 1959 (had he graduated). But he ran off with the rodeo from Love Valley, N. C. at about age 16 (1955/56), an 8th grader, and became a western cowboy in Wyoming. Dennis Phillips (probably about 92 in summer 2019 & with dementia) was like a 2nd father to him out west (Dennis now in Window Rock, Arizona); and George told me in summer 2019, "He was a true cowboy". Dennis had a brother in Clarinda, Iowa; & George boarded with him, his wife & his daughter for about 6-18 months. 8/8-10/2019 George to Ervin: "Dennis had a brother in Clarinda, Iowa that I lived with Dennis' brother and wife for 6-18 months & their sister was there and a 'hottie pants', & I later heard that she'd had a baby boy and was possibly mine. I often think about that and wonder if he was mine and, if so, what became of him." After several years, George's parents located him & told him he had 2 choices: Army or Air Force. Though deathly afraid of flying, he chose Air Force and was first stationed at Lackland AFB in San Antonio & then another Texas station and did rodeos on the weekends. In May 2020, it was disclosed that his disappearance from Love Valley had the FBI searching for him for vagrancy and truancy, and they found him in Deming, New Mexico and brought him back home. After hearings of some sort, he was given the choice of serving time in juvenile justice or join the Air Force.
On returning to S. C. either when brother Everette died (1971) or when sister Ann married (1961), he introduced the western paint horse into the horse show competitions in S. C. He would later be the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from The American Paint Horse Association.
First & foremost, George was a man's-man cowboy. Years ago, he also had a commercial chicken farm near his home on Darby Ambrose Road where he was a horse breeder & trainer, and he ran a large horse-boarding operation (The Horse Motel) while also being a welder and heavy equipment operator and then shifting way more into being a cattle rancher at where he and Saundra eventually located, known as Ox Bow Ranch (on Old Chalk Bed Road in Lexington County). For a short time, they owned a ranch in New Mexico.
He and Saundra became members of Steadman Baptist Church near Batesburg-Leesville. On Nov. 29th, 2015, he was re-baptized & Saundra baptized at Steadman by Pastor Raymond Truett (see photo).
After some health issues beginning almost 2 years ago, he was burned in a memorable hay-bale-hauling incident on Old Chalk Bed Road & at the ranch. In late summer of 2018, George had an emergency surgery. A few days post-op, there was a near-fatal septic-shock complication. George later told me (as I was inquiring along the lines of whether he'd had a dear-death-experience), "I saw the 'other side' and , Doc, it was totally peaceful." He was slowly recovering at home since this summer; & he had supper and went to bed. Saundra checked on him about 10:30PM, and he died peacefully shortly afterward...on the very same date of the month that his older sister had died 4 years prior!
He first married Bobbie Cox in 1961, and their children are Michael & Christy whose mother is deceased. Additionally, he is survived by his wonderful wife of 33 years, Saundra Johnson Drafts. Prior to his death, he was known as "dad" or "Poppa" to his children and grandchildren who dearly loved him and as Uncle George to nieces & nephews.
****************
Here are some postings or texts from some who admired George:
(1) Mark Hollis: Mr. George was an awesome man with a kind soul. When you look up cowboy in the dictionary, there's a picture of him.
(2) Amy Lee Drafts: I am so incredibly sorry. Such a great loss for your family! He impacted the life of EVERYONE he met! Always with open arms and an open heart. Prayers for your family! And yes, Papa was the Last Real Cowboy.
(3) Lexington Co. Coroner, Margaret Fisher: George Drafts will forever be the strongest man I have ever known! Jesus welcomed him home last night! Heaven gained a "real" cowboy! He is now healed and riding broncs in heaven! I love you George Drafts. Forever in our hearts!! You were one of a kind!!
(4) Beth Jackson Wilcoxson: In memory of George Drafts, a man who taught me how to train and show horses as a young girl that carried forward in my adult life, along with all the other lessons learned In regards to everything about farming and tending to cattle and so many more life lessons. Most definitely a great man and teacher. The one picture I posted here is one of him and his daughter Christy and one of his son Michael. All of these were just wonderful times. George will be truly missed.
(5) Woody Elders (summer of 2019): I know a Real Legend. He is the last Cowboy. I have never met a man like this man. He showed me how tough you can be even at 80. I got a chance to tell him how much I thought of him while he laid in the hospital bed (for a month then). As he laid there I told him how much I respected him as well as everyone that got the chance to know him.I informed all the nurses who he was. A Legend! They had no idea. To them he was just a patient. When I got done telling them about this Great man and who they were dealing with, they all perked up. On the other end of life people probably won't know who or what you have done in life. This saddens me. Life is full of great lessons. I told him he was the toughest man I have ever known. He said, "I used to be". Please say a prayer for Mr. George Drafts. The Last Real Cowboy.
***********
OBITUARY:
George Marion Drafts, 80, of Batesburg, passed away on Friday November 22, 2019. Born in Lexington County on March 21, 1939, he was the son of the late George Bell and Lallah Lindler Drafts, and the husband of 33 years to Saundra Lee Drafts. George was a member of Steadman Baptist Church in Leesville, SC. He was a lifelong rancher, and his greatest passion was always his horses and cows. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Paint Horse Association.
In addition to his wife, George is survived by his son, George Michael Drafts; daughters, Ada Christien " Christy" Drafts, Karen L. Goff Daniels, and Dawn E. Goff Ford; sisters, Betty Drafts Shaw, Brenda Drafts Speer, and Trudy Drafts Wales; as well as nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Everett Drafts; a sister, Ann Drafts Koch; and an infant son.
A memorial service will be held at 1pm on Tuesday, November 26th at Steadman Baptist Church, 1011 North Edisto Road, Leesville, SC 29070, with Rev. Bill Padgett officiating. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall at the church immediately following the service.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the grandchildren who assisted George in running and maintaining the farm during his later years.
*************
11/26/2019 CELEBRATION of LIFE SERVICE:
Pastor Bill Padgett first noted that, this summer, George had told him, "If I don't make it out of the hospital alive, don't make any service about me...make it about Jesus." His comments continued to the great appreciation of all present as the focus was on Jesus. The church was packed (standing room only) with friends & kin, many dressed at least partly in cowboy or rodeo clothes & boots. Pastor Bill started off with the witnessing that both he and I had heard George say simply that he'd seen the other side. Pastor noted that the first Sunday George attended church after the long hospitalization, George & Saundra went to their Sunday School class & George told them about seeing the other side. During the services, Saundra's friend, Ann Lockaby, did amazing renditions of "Stroll Over Heaven With You" , "Cowboy Rides Away", and "Far Side Banks of Jordan". Rocky Gunter ended with his rendition of "I'll Fly Away". Then everyone went to the fellowship center where the family had memorabilia for all to view and food and time for visiting and sharing memories. This was a unique celebration, and I think George would have approved!
George's Swiss-German immigrant ancestor (Jacob Drafts) arrived in Charleston in 1744 at age 32, and he was scalped and killed at age 47 by the Cherokee Indians in 1760 in present-day Lexington County.
George was born at their home when they lived across from present-day Lexington High School on Hwy #378. He was named "George" after his daddy & "Marion" after his daddy's very good quail-hunting friend Dr. Marion Wyman. As a boy, Uncle Darby Drafts nick-named him "Booby"...in the family & church and school George was known by all as "Booby" Drafts. He was baptized young.
As eldest son, he and his father butted heads more & more the older he got. George entered Lexington public schools with the class of 1959 (had he graduated). But he ran off with the rodeo from Love Valley, N. C. at about age 16 (1955/56), an 8th grader, and became a western cowboy in Wyoming. Dennis Phillips (probably about 92 in summer 2019 & with dementia) was like a 2nd father to him out west (Dennis now in Window Rock, Arizona); and George told me in summer 2019, "He was a true cowboy". Dennis had a brother in Clarinda, Iowa; & George boarded with him, his wife & his daughter for about 6-18 months. 8/8-10/2019 George to Ervin: "Dennis had a brother in Clarinda, Iowa that I lived with Dennis' brother and wife for 6-18 months & their sister was there and a 'hottie pants', & I later heard that she'd had a baby boy and was possibly mine. I often think about that and wonder if he was mine and, if so, what became of him." After several years, George's parents located him & told him he had 2 choices: Army or Air Force. Though deathly afraid of flying, he chose Air Force and was first stationed at Lackland AFB in San Antonio & then another Texas station and did rodeos on the weekends. In May 2020, it was disclosed that his disappearance from Love Valley had the FBI searching for him for vagrancy and truancy, and they found him in Deming, New Mexico and brought him back home. After hearings of some sort, he was given the choice of serving time in juvenile justice or join the Air Force.
On returning to S. C. either when brother Everette died (1971) or when sister Ann married (1961), he introduced the western paint horse into the horse show competitions in S. C. He would later be the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from The American Paint Horse Association.
First & foremost, George was a man's-man cowboy. Years ago, he also had a commercial chicken farm near his home on Darby Ambrose Road where he was a horse breeder & trainer, and he ran a large horse-boarding operation (The Horse Motel) while also being a welder and heavy equipment operator and then shifting way more into being a cattle rancher at where he and Saundra eventually located, known as Ox Bow Ranch (on Old Chalk Bed Road in Lexington County). For a short time, they owned a ranch in New Mexico.
He and Saundra became members of Steadman Baptist Church near Batesburg-Leesville. On Nov. 29th, 2015, he was re-baptized & Saundra baptized at Steadman by Pastor Raymond Truett (see photo).
After some health issues beginning almost 2 years ago, he was burned in a memorable hay-bale-hauling incident on Old Chalk Bed Road & at the ranch. In late summer of 2018, George had an emergency surgery. A few days post-op, there was a near-fatal septic-shock complication. George later told me (as I was inquiring along the lines of whether he'd had a dear-death-experience), "I saw the 'other side' and , Doc, it was totally peaceful." He was slowly recovering at home since this summer; & he had supper and went to bed. Saundra checked on him about 10:30PM, and he died peacefully shortly afterward...on the very same date of the month that his older sister had died 4 years prior!
He first married Bobbie Cox in 1961, and their children are Michael & Christy whose mother is deceased. Additionally, he is survived by his wonderful wife of 33 years, Saundra Johnson Drafts. Prior to his death, he was known as "dad" or "Poppa" to his children and grandchildren who dearly loved him and as Uncle George to nieces & nephews.
****************
Here are some postings or texts from some who admired George:
(1) Mark Hollis: Mr. George was an awesome man with a kind soul. When you look up cowboy in the dictionary, there's a picture of him.
(2) Amy Lee Drafts: I am so incredibly sorry. Such a great loss for your family! He impacted the life of EVERYONE he met! Always with open arms and an open heart. Prayers for your family! And yes, Papa was the Last Real Cowboy.
(3) Lexington Co. Coroner, Margaret Fisher: George Drafts will forever be the strongest man I have ever known! Jesus welcomed him home last night! Heaven gained a "real" cowboy! He is now healed and riding broncs in heaven! I love you George Drafts. Forever in our hearts!! You were one of a kind!!
(4) Beth Jackson Wilcoxson: In memory of George Drafts, a man who taught me how to train and show horses as a young girl that carried forward in my adult life, along with all the other lessons learned In regards to everything about farming and tending to cattle and so many more life lessons. Most definitely a great man and teacher. The one picture I posted here is one of him and his daughter Christy and one of his son Michael. All of these were just wonderful times. George will be truly missed.
(5) Woody Elders (summer of 2019): I know a Real Legend. He is the last Cowboy. I have never met a man like this man. He showed me how tough you can be even at 80. I got a chance to tell him how much I thought of him while he laid in the hospital bed (for a month then). As he laid there I told him how much I respected him as well as everyone that got the chance to know him.I informed all the nurses who he was. A Legend! They had no idea. To them he was just a patient. When I got done telling them about this Great man and who they were dealing with, they all perked up. On the other end of life people probably won't know who or what you have done in life. This saddens me. Life is full of great lessons. I told him he was the toughest man I have ever known. He said, "I used to be". Please say a prayer for Mr. George Drafts. The Last Real Cowboy.
***********
OBITUARY:
George Marion Drafts, 80, of Batesburg, passed away on Friday November 22, 2019. Born in Lexington County on March 21, 1939, he was the son of the late George Bell and Lallah Lindler Drafts, and the husband of 33 years to Saundra Lee Drafts. George was a member of Steadman Baptist Church in Leesville, SC. He was a lifelong rancher, and his greatest passion was always his horses and cows. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Paint Horse Association.
In addition to his wife, George is survived by his son, George Michael Drafts; daughters, Ada Christien " Christy" Drafts, Karen L. Goff Daniels, and Dawn E. Goff Ford; sisters, Betty Drafts Shaw, Brenda Drafts Speer, and Trudy Drafts Wales; as well as nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Everett Drafts; a sister, Ann Drafts Koch; and an infant son.
A memorial service will be held at 1pm on Tuesday, November 26th at Steadman Baptist Church, 1011 North Edisto Road, Leesville, SC 29070, with Rev. Bill Padgett officiating. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall at the church immediately following the service.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the grandchildren who assisted George in running and maintaining the farm during his later years.
*************
11/26/2019 CELEBRATION of LIFE SERVICE:
Pastor Bill Padgett first noted that, this summer, George had told him, "If I don't make it out of the hospital alive, don't make any service about me...make it about Jesus." His comments continued to the great appreciation of all present as the focus was on Jesus. The church was packed (standing room only) with friends & kin, many dressed at least partly in cowboy or rodeo clothes & boots. Pastor Bill started off with the witnessing that both he and I had heard George say simply that he'd seen the other side. Pastor noted that the first Sunday George attended church after the long hospitalization, George & Saundra went to their Sunday School class & George told them about seeing the other side. During the services, Saundra's friend, Ann Lockaby, did amazing renditions of "Stroll Over Heaven With You" , "Cowboy Rides Away", and "Far Side Banks of Jordan". Rocky Gunter ended with his rendition of "I'll Fly Away". Then everyone went to the fellowship center where the family had memorabilia for all to view and food and time for visiting and sharing memories. This was a unique celebration, and I think George would have approved!
George was born at their home when they lived across from present-day Lexington High School on Hwy #378. He was named "George" after his daddy & "Marion" after his daddy's very good quail-hunting friend Dr. Marion Wyman. As a boy, Uncle Darby Drafts nick-named him "Booby"...in the family & church and school George was known by all as "Booby" Drafts. He was baptized young.
As eldest son, he and his father butted heads more & more the older he got. George entered Lexington public schools with the class of 1959 (had he graduated). But he ran off with the rodeo from Love Valley, N. C. at about age 16 (1955/56), an 8th grader, and became a western cowboy in Wyoming. Dennis Phillips (probably about 92 in summer 2019 & with dementia) was like a 2nd father to him out west (Dennis now in Window Rock, Arizona); and George told me in summer 2019, "He was a true cowboy". Dennis had a brother in Clarinda, Iowa; & George boarded with him, his wife & his daughter for about 6-18 months. 8/8-10/2019 George to Ervin: "Dennis had a brother in Clarinda, Iowa that I lived with Dennis' brother and wife for 6-18 months & their sister was there and a 'hottie pants', & I later heard that she'd had a baby boy and was possibly mine. I often think about that and wonder if he was mine and, if so, what became of him." After several years, George's parents located him & told him he had 2 choices: Army or Air Force. Though deathly afraid of flying, he chose Air Force and was first stationed at Lackland AFB in San Antonio & then another Texas station and did rodeos on the weekends. In May 2020, it was disclosed that his disappearance from Love Valley had the FBI searching for him for vagrancy and truancy, and they found him in Deming, New Mexico and brought him back home. After hearings of some sort, he was given the choice of serving time in juvenile justice or join the Air Force.
On returning to S. C. either when brother Everette died (1971) or when sister Ann married (1961), he introduced the western paint horse into the horse show competitions in S. C. He would later be the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from The American Paint Horse Association.
First & foremost, George was a man's-man cowboy. Years ago, he also had a commercial chicken farm near his home on Darby Ambrose Road where he was a horse breeder & trainer, and he ran a large horse-boarding operation (The Horse Motel) while also being a welder and heavy equipment operator and then shifting way more into being a cattle rancher at where he and Saundra eventually located, known as Ox Bow Ranch (on Old Chalk Bed Road in Lexington County). For a short time, they owned a ranch in New Mexico.
He and Saundra became members of Steadman Baptist Church near Batesburg-Leesville. On Nov. 29th, 2015, he was re-baptized & Saundra baptized at Steadman by Pastor Raymond Truett (see photo).
After some health issues beginning almost 2 years ago, he was burned in a memorable hay-bale-hauling incident on Old Chalk Bed Road & at the ranch. In late summer of 2018, George had an emergency surgery. A few days post-op, there was a near-fatal septic-shock complication. George later told me (as I was inquiring along the lines of whether he'd had a dear-death-experience), "I saw the 'other side' and , Doc, it was totally peaceful." He was slowly recovering at home since this summer; & he had supper and went to bed. Saundra checked on him about 10:30PM, and he died peacefully shortly afterward...on the very same date of the month that his older sister had died 4 years prior!
He first married Bobbie Cox in 1961, and their children are Michael & Christy whose mother is deceased. Additionally, he is survived by his wonderful wife of 33 years, Saundra Johnson Drafts. Prior to his death, he was known as "dad" or "Poppa" to his children and grandchildren who dearly loved him and as Uncle George to nieces & nephews.
****************
Here are some postings or texts from some who admired George:
(1) Mark Hollis: Mr. George was an awesome man with a kind soul. When you look up cowboy in the dictionary, there's a picture of him.
(2) Amy Lee Drafts: I am so incredibly sorry. Such a great loss for your family! He impacted the life of EVERYONE he met! Always with open arms and an open heart. Prayers for your family! And yes, Papa was the Last Real Cowboy.
(3) Lexington Co. Coroner, Margaret Fisher: George Drafts will forever be the strongest man I have ever known! Jesus welcomed him home last night! Heaven gained a "real" cowboy! He is now healed and riding broncs in heaven! I love you George Drafts. Forever in our hearts!! You were one of a kind!!
(4) Beth Jackson Wilcoxson: In memory of George Drafts, a man who taught me how to train and show horses as a young girl that carried forward in my adult life, along with all the other lessons learned In regards to everything about farming and tending to cattle and so many more life lessons. Most definitely a great man and teacher. The one picture I posted here is one of him and his daughter Christy and one of his son Michael. All of these were just wonderful times. George will be truly missed.
(5) Woody Elders (summer of 2019): I know a Real Legend. He is the last Cowboy. I have never met a man like this man. He showed me how tough you can be even at 80. I got a chance to tell him how much I thought of him while he laid in the hospital bed (for a month then). As he laid there I told him how much I respected him as well as everyone that got the chance to know him.I informed all the nurses who he was. A Legend! They had no idea. To them he was just a patient. When I got done telling them about this Great man and who they were dealing with, they all perked up. On the other end of life people probably won't know who or what you have done in life. This saddens me. Life is full of great lessons. I told him he was the toughest man I have ever known. He said, "I used to be". Please say a prayer for Mr. George Drafts. The Last Real Cowboy.
***********
OBITUARY:
George Marion Drafts, 80, of Batesburg, passed away on Friday November 22, 2019. Born in Lexington County on March 21, 1939, he was the son of the late George Bell and Lallah Lindler Drafts, and the husband of 33 years to Saundra Lee Drafts. George was a member of Steadman Baptist Church in Leesville, SC. He was a lifelong rancher, and his greatest passion was always his horses and cows. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Paint Horse Association.
In addition to his wife, George is survived by his son, George Michael Drafts; daughters, Ada Christien " Christy" Drafts, Karen L. Goff Daniels, and Dawn E. Goff Ford; sisters, Betty Drafts Shaw, Brenda Drafts Speer, and Trudy Drafts Wales; as well as nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Everett Drafts; a sister, Ann Drafts Koch; and an infant son.
A memorial service will be held at 1pm on Tuesday, November 26th at Steadman Baptist Church, 1011 North Edisto Road, Leesville, SC 29070, with Rev. Bill Padgett officiating. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall at the church immediately following the service.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the grandchildren who assisted George in running and maintaining the farm during his later years.
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11/26/2019 CELEBRATION of LIFE SERVICE:
Pastor Bill Padgett first noted that, this summer, George had told him, "If I don't make it out of the hospital alive, don't make any service about me...make it about Jesus." His comments continued to the great appreciation of all present as the focus was on Jesus. The church was packed (standing room only) with friends & kin, many dressed at least partly in cowboy or rodeo clothes & boots. Pastor Bill started off with the witnessing that both he and I had heard George say simply that he'd seen the other side. Pastor noted that the first Sunday George attended church after the long hospitalization, George & Saundra went to their Sunday School class & George told them about seeing the other side. During the services, Saundra's friend, Ann Lockaby, did amazing renditions of "Stroll Over Heaven With You" , "Cowboy Rides Away", and "Far Side Banks of Jordan". Rocky Gunter ended with his rendition of "I'll Fly Away". Then everyone went to the fellowship center where the family had memorabilia for all to view and food and time for visiting and sharing memories. This was a unique celebration, and I think George would have approved!
Gravesite Details
Cremains to wife & then, in the future, they will be scattered in the pecan grove on the ranch they previously owned in New Mexico.
Family Members
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