Steve Harden Drayton

Steve Hardin Drayton, son of the late Bertell Harden Drayton and the late Jake Drayton, born on Sunday, March 11, 1951, in Ellendale, Delaware, departed this life suddenly, on Wednesday, July 15, 2020, at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, Seaford, Delaware, at the age of 69. Steve graduated from Seaford Senior High School in 1970. While in high school, he played football and ran track, serving as co-captain for both sports. He made All Delmarva Senior Football in his senior year. After graduation, Steve attended Delaware State College for two years and later obtained an electrician certificate from Sussex Vo-Tech. When Steve left college in 1972, he began working for E. I. Dupont de Nemours & Company in Seaford, Delaware, as a spinning machine operator and was with the company for 25 years. He later worked for Solo Cup Company in Federalsburg, Maryland, retiring after an injury. Steve’s purpose in life was to aim high and set goals. At an early age, he worked hard to achieve his goals and had no problem helping others reach theirs. Sports were his passion. He played softball on a men’s softball league with the Nets. He served as an official basketball referee for the National Association from 1975 - 1995. He was a die-hard Miami Dolphins fan. He loved to dress and have pretty cars. Whatever the vehicle, his goal was to “see what it could do”. On Wednesday, payday, their drag strip was the back road in Cannon, Delaware. One thing for sure, according to his friends, when you rode with him, you were in for a ride. Steve was blessed with three devoted friends: Charles “Chaz” Fountain, Jay Kennedy and the late Tyronne West. They shared many family and sports events and that bond existed over the years. Steve was reunited with his lifelong love, Vanessa Kilgoe Hitchens. On March 11, 2015, they were united in holy matrimony. Several joys took credit for consuming his spare time, the Dolphins football team, basketball, teaching his 4-year old great-grandson about the sport and telling him that he will be playing football. Steve also enjoyed watching TD Jakes, listening to spirituals, and eating snacks while he watched old movies. In addition to his parents, Steve was preceded in death by five brothers, Jake, Jr., Valder, Earl, Alfred and Herbert Drayton. Steve leaves to cherish his memories, wife, Vanessa; two sons, Blair Drayton and Steven Nichols of Seaford, DE; two step-daughters, Kiesha Deshields of Bridgeville, DE and Alisha Cannon of Laurel, DE; three grandchildren; six step-grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; three sisters; Zenoami Davis of Slaughter Neck, DE, Lenora Williams of Seaford, DE and Mable Jones (George) of Lincoln, DE; four brothers, Carey Drayton (Leslie) of Lanham, MD, Robert Drayton (Helen) of Seaford, DE, Layton Drayton (Josephine) of Bridgeville, DE and Marion Drayton (Molly) of Warner Robins, GA; four sisters-in-law, Diane Drayton, and Sharon Janet and Valerie Purnell; two brothers-in-law, Quinton Kilgoe (Sheila) of Salisbury, MD and Clifton Smack (Buku) of NC; mother-in-law, Frances Camper of Salisbury, MD; three special nephews, Vaughn Kilgoe (Sunday) of Seaford, DE, Curtis Williams (Annette) of Bridgeville, DE and Alfred Drayton (Shirley) of Salisbury, MD; two special nieces, Katara Drayton of Seaford, DE and Novie Drayton of Lanham, MD; two goddaughters, Rovair Pettie of Rehoboth, DE and Amber Oriel Fountain Cannon of Bridgeville, DE; one godson, Robert L. S. Drayton of Cambridge, MD and numerous close nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Lovingly Submitted, The Family

Steve Harden Drayton

March 11, 1951 - July 15, 2020