Mr. Draper Leroy Scott

      Mr. Draper Leroy Scott, beloved son of the late Ms. Josephine Scott and Mr. Leroy Hawkins, was born on December 28, 1976, in Newark, New Jersey. Draper departed this earthly life on June 26, 2026. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, his maternal and paternal grandparents, and his bonus parents, Mr. Tony Rich and Mrs. Gracie May Scott-Rich.

     During his formative elementary school years, Draper attended schools within the Maple Avenue School District in Newark. Following the tender passing of his mother, Draper relocated to Orrum, North Carolina, where he was embraced and lovingly raised by his devoted aunt and uncle.

     Draper went on to graduate from Fairmont High School with the Class of 1994. A deeply creative and artistic soul, he found great joy in drawing, writing short stories, and composing his own rap lyrics. Though large and impressive in stature, everyone who crossed his path knew Draper as a true "gentle giant", always ready to light up a room with his infectious laugh.

    An avid reader and passionate moviegoer, Draper could routinely be found diving into the latest comic book adaptations, holding a lifelong affinity for Superman. He also loved showing off his impressive culinary skills both inside and outside the kitchen, which included grilling. When he wasn't cooking, he enjoyed playing video games and surrounding himself with those he loved. As the saying goes, "If you know, you know"—and to Draper, his close friends were absolutely family.

     Draper was genuinely loved by many and truly never met a stranger, possessing a rare ability to accept people exactly as they were without judgment. In his adolescent years, he attended the Christian Faith Center in Lumberton, where he served in the audio & video department and was a member of the church’s hip-hop group. In his later adult years, he enjoyed visiting Greater Higher Grounds Pentecostal Holiness Church.

     For the final nine years of his life, Draper was a dedicated and hardworking employee of Americold Logistics. He lived his life with an entirely selfless heart, the kind of man who would truly give someone the shirt off his own back. To know him was to know a bright, enduring star.

     He leaves to cherish his memory his two godchildren, Jahon Howard of Kansas and Lazaraus James of Fairmont; four sisters, LaWanda Hawkins-Woody (Sanford), Katrese Lorraine Hawkins-Burnett (Charles), and Kisha Pollard (all of New Jersey), and Alicia Rich of Lumberton, NC; three brothers, Sean Scott (Vickie) of Tallahassee, FL, Demarris Jackson (Takisha) of Lumberton, NC, and Marcus Rich of South Carolina; and a bonus brother, Marcus Potts of Lumberton, NC; God mother, Deborah Jean Scott of Lumberton, NC, and god brother, Edward Kion Scott( Wanda) of Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania and god sister Crystal Brown of Washington; along with a host of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, extended relatives, and dear friends who will miss his warmth daily.    

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