Thomas Benjamin Draper, Jr.

Mr. Thomas Benjamin Draper, Jr., 66, of Leesburg, passed away Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at Willson Hospice House surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 31, 2017 in the chapel of Joseph W. Jones Funeral Home of Leesburg. Rev. Tim Bice and Rev. Les Reed will officiate with interment to follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Worth County. Pallbearers will be Craig Everson, Donald Stroud, Luke Singletary, Gavin Sloan, Garrett Sloan, Nick Wiggins and Colby Blackburn. Born April 22, 1950 in Milford, Delaware, Mr. Draper was the son of the late Thomas Draper and Mildred Brooks Draper. He retired from Procter and Gamble Paper Products and enjoyed riding his tractor on his land in Lee County. He played baseball as a youth through high school and coached countless boys through the years in Lee County. He greatly enjoyed coaching baseball for his grandsons, loved playing the guitar and singing The Gospel. He loved The Lord Jesus, his family and lived a “Never Ending Journey” which was also the name of his gospel singing group. Mr. Draper was a talented musician who wrote several gospel songs through the years. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him, but what a great reunion there will be someday in Heaven. In addition to his parents, Mr. Draper was preceded in death by his brother, Donnie Draper. Survivors include his loving wife of 47 years, Mary Jean Pines Draper of Leesburg; children, Shawn Skandamis and Andrew of Lee County, Angie Shipley and Geoffrey of Lee County and Thomas B. Draper and Kelly of Albany; brothers, Ernie Draper of Lee County and Bruce Draper of Worth County; sisters, Faye Everson, Carol Stroud and A.B., Nancy Summerlin and Larry, and Cindy Young and Charles all of Lee County and Debbie Carney and Aaron of Mitchell County; grandchildren, Heidi Denney and Dustin, Hogan Skandamis and Fowler, Travis and Trevor Shipley; 1 great-granddaughter on the way, Norah June Denney; several nieces; nephews; and special cousins. The family will be at 1088 Pinewood Road Leesburg, GA 31763 and will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m., Thursday, March 30, 2017 at Joseph W. Jones Funeral Home, 375 US Highway 19 S. Leesburg, GA. 31763. Condolences and memories may be shared with the Draper family at www.josephwjonesfuneralhome.com.