Vera Irene Draper

Vera Irene Draper, age 91, left for her heavenly home very early Monday morning, January 31, 2022. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Charles Edwin Draper; her mother, Nellie Young; her father, Arlie Young and her son Andy Charles Draper. Also preceding her in death were her two sisters, Naomi and Nell and her two brothers, Melvin and Ray. She leaves behind her “favorite (and only)” daughter, LaVera and her husband, Terry; grandchildren Kimberly Bradley, Benjamin Brown, David Brown and his wife, Brooke, all from Montgomery; granddaughter Amanda Hernandez and her husband, Mark, and grandson, Andy Charles Draper, Jr. and his wife, Jessica, all from Indiana. She also leaves behind nine cherished great grandchildren, Kelsey, Joey, Tyler, Mark, Jr., Isaiah, Alicia, Jase, Link and Charlie; along with several nieces and nephews; a special in-law, Betty Brown and cherished friends like Sam Cooper, who visited and called her regularly; Cindy Savage who sent more cards and notes than we could ever count and also Beth Fraley, from Crowne Health Care, as well as many others at Crowne who were so very kind to her during her final years. Because of Covid, she never got to meet Charlie but she watched many videos of him with LaVera and would always exclaim “he is just so cute!”

Vera was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma and attended Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas until she met and married Charles – the love of her life. She stopped the pursuit of her degree when they married and moved to Florence, Alabama to work with Mars Hill Bible School. She later finished her college degree at Pepperdine University and began a teaching career in California. She loved children – especially 2nd and 3rd graders. She was also dedicated to her church families; teaching many children’s Bible classes and she especially loved singing with the children. She was a gifted singer which is what first attracted Charles to her at Harding. She loved being a part of the Happy Hearts group at Vaughn Park and was known for bringing her special broccoli salad to the fellowships they had.

A celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 6 at the Vaughn Park Church of Christ with Sam Cooper officiating. Visitation with the family will take place one hour before the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Vaughn Park Church of Christ – Mexico Missions (3800 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL) or to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (217 Country Club Park #432, Birmingham, AL 35213).