Ruth Drayton
August 25, 1937 ~ April 24, 2020
Ruth Drayton Age 82
Beloved wife of the late Leroy.
Loving mother of Audrey Drayton & Angela (Alonzo) Drayton-Dallis.
Cherished grandmother of Renee (William) Lowe & Ryan Drayton.
Adored great grandmother of Janae and Ryan Jr.
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Thank you for helping make me the woman I am today. I will miss our talks about motherhood, cooking or whatever came across your mind that someone did. LOL You always made me look at the brighter side of things and told me when in doubt to sit back and pray, God’s got you. Well, He has you now and I am ever so grateful knowing you are in the BEST care with Him. We will love you always and forever…. Will, Nay and SweetPea
Reflection of Life
Ruth Drayton (Mommy, Auntie Ruthie, & Geema) was born on August 25, 1937 in Lowndes County Alabama, to the late Richard and Aldrew Gilliam. She was the fourth child of six siblings. Ruth departed this life on April 24,2020.
Ruth spent her early years in Birmingham Alabama, Her teenage and adult years in Spanish Harlem, Brooklyn, and Queens N.Y.
Ruth graduated from Julia Richmond High School in New York & Queens College Flushing N.Y. Ruth worked for the Board of Education City of New York aka New York City Department of Education. There she started as a clerk and worked her way up to become District 19’s Director of Personal. She retired from the NYCDOE with many lifelong friends.
Ruth was very civic minded and belonged to many service organizations The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club Brooklyn Chapter, The Toastmasters & The Lions Club just to name a few. Ruth enjoyed the theater, sewing, bowling, playing bridge and going to the casinos. Ruth loved to cook, bake and BBQ her specialty was a German Chocolate cake and pork chops for her Sweet pea. If it was a sunny day or if it was snowing outside you would find her lighting up the grill for a BBQ. She also loved music the Blues, Old School R&B, Jazz and Gospel she would often sit for long periods of time blasting her music. She was known for her sharp wit, and her fashionable style. Ruth was a world traveler going to places such as Europe, Caribbean, North America, and the Middle East.
While living in Brooklyn she met the love of life Leroy “Sonny” Drayton they were married for 49 years and he preceded her in death.
Ruth leaves to cherish daughters Audrey Drayton and Angela Drayton Dallis (Alonzo). Grandchildren Renee (William) and Ryan, and great grandchildren Janae and Ryan Jr. One sister Mary Stone of Fredericksburg, Virginia and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends.
Lovingly submitted
The Family
The Family of Ruth Drayton would like to extend their heartfelt thanks and appreciation for all acts of kindness and support shown to them during their time of bereavement.
God bless
Time cannot steal the treasures
That we carry in our hearts
Nor ever dim the shining thoughts
Our cherished past imparts.
And the memories of the one we’ve loved
Still cast their gentle glow
To grace our days and light our path
Wherever we may go
While these are moments of sad reflection, they should also be moments of rededicated
determination. We must unite and carry on in the spirit of our Founders and members who have
transitioned to the “Omega Club” of eternal rest. Today, we pause to pay respect to the memory of
our sister, Ruth Drayton, who is resting from her labors.
PRAY IN UNISON: O God, our refuge and strength, the giver of life and death, we praise you for
all servants who have lived this life in faith and service, and now live eternally with you. Today, we
remember our departed sister, Ruth. We are grateful you gave her to us for
a little while. We give thanks for her life, for the warm and vivid memories she left us and for her
deeds of service to others. Dear Father, give us courage to mourn as we must and to trust your
Grace to lead us out of this valley of the shadow of death. Help us to gird ourselves to finish the
work our departed began, so that God’s peace may yet come to all our world. Amen.
LOCAL CLUB PRESIDENT: The Club of the National Association of
Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. lights this candle in the memory of Ruth
as a symbol of the love that continues to burn in our hearts for Ruth.
We offer this single yellow rose as a symbol of the gratitude and love for her held
by all here assembled.
IN UNISON: When Earth’s last picture is painted
And the tubes are twisted and dried,
When the oldest of colors have faded
And the youngest critic has died;
Lie down for an eon or two
‘Til the Master of all good workers
Shall put us to work anew.
Then only the Master shall praise us,
And only the Master shall blame;
And no one shall work for money,
And no one shall work for fame.
Each shall work for the joy of working
And each in their separate star,
Shall draw the thing as they see it
For the good of things as they are.
LEADER: Here ends our Memorial Service
My condolences to the family of Ruth Drayton, may God continue to comfort you and keep lifted in the palm of His hands.