Mary Lou Thrift Drayton

Nahunta-Mrs. Mary Lou Thrift Drayton,77, of Nahunta passed away Saturday (Oct. 27,2012) at her residence after an extended illness. She was surrounded by family and friends. Born in Brantley County, she was the daughter of the late Isaac and Ethel Johns Thrift. She was of the Baptist faith. A 1955 graduate of Nahunta High School. She later attended Michigan State University for a short time. She loved serving people and worked as a waitress from the time of her graduation until declining health forced her to retire. She loved to travel and traveled extensively while her health permitted to all States east of Mississippi except Rhode Island. She enjoyed good jokes and brought a lot of laughter to her family and friends. She lived in Lansing, Michigan and Hilton, New York until her husband's retirement. She and her husband returned to Waycross where she resided for a few years. She then returned to Brantley County where she was taken care of by her loving sister, Jayne Allbritton and a loving niece, Shawn Dixon until her demise. Other than her parents, she was also preceded in death by two children; Gregory Michael Drayton and Wanda Jean Drayton; two sisters, Mildred Thrift and Alice Thrift; four brothers, Everett (Bunk) Thrift, Russell Thomas Thrift, Warren Thrift and Lonell Thrift; a niece, Donna Lynn Thrift and nephew, Wade Arlin Thrift. She is survived by her husband, Kenneth R. Drayton of Waycross; one son and daughter-in-law, Kenny and Susan Drayton of Nahunta, a second daughter-in-law, Lorie Drayton, Hilton, N.Y., a grandson (whom she reared) Robert Shane Drayton, U.S. Military, Afghanistan; five other grandchildren: Courtney Drayton, Kailee Rowell (Kaleb), Justin Drayton, all of Nahunta; Amanda and Mary Jayne Drayton of Hilton, N.Y.. She is also survived by two sisters and brothers-in-law: Evelyn Crews (Larry), Jayne Allbritton (Freddie) and one brother and sister-in-law Jesse Thrift (Linda); other sisters-in-law include Judy Thrift, Metter, GA., Shirley Thrift, Nahunta, GA., Juanita Thrift Crews, Nahunta, GA., several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. The Family will receive friends Tuesday evening (Oct. 30, 2012) from 6:00 P.M. until at Riverside Chapel Baptist Church in The Riverside Community. The funeral will be Wednesday at Riverside Chapel Baptist Church at 2:00 P.M. with Reverend Randy Wainright and Reverend Robert Gillis officiating. Interment will follow in the family plot in Bethlehem Cemetery, Hickox, GA. Pallbearers will be nephews, Wesley Allbritton, Kevin Thrift, Hershel Dixon, Elden Crews, Ethan Crews, Stuart Thrift, Matt Thrift and Franklin Dixon. Honorary Pallbearers will be Alan Thrift, Tony Thrift, Robert Brooker, Lamar Brooker, Steve Thrift, and Warren "Barney" Thrift. Arrangements are with Frye Funeral Home, Nahunta. Sympathy may be expressed by signing our online registry at fryefh.com.