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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR REVEREND DR. SANDY WILLIAM DRAYTON, PRESIDING ELDER OF THE GEORGETOWN DISTRICT OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, FOR FORTY-SIX YEARS OF FAITHFUL MINISTRY TO THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, TO HIS COMMUNITY, AND TO HIS GOD.
Whereas, it is altogether fitting and proper that the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives should pause in their deliberations to commend Presiding Elder Sandy W. Drayton for his dedicated ministry of nurturing the young and old within the church and community; and
Whereas, a native of Georgetown, he is the seventh child of the late Frank and Mary Lee Nesbitt Drayton, and he attended J. B. Beck Elementary School and graduated from Howard High School in 1968; and
Whereas, in the patriotic tradition of the sons of South Carolina, Reverend Drayton enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after graduation and then continued his education at Allen University in Columbia, where he met his beloved wife, Pradensia, and still found time to earn a bachelor's degree in sociology in 1975. They later married and now have three fine children and four adoring grandchildren; and
Whereas, he earned a Master of Divinity in 1978 from Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio, and a doctorate in church member retention from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D. C., in 2014; and
Whereas, in 1973, Reverend Drayton delivered his initial sermon in Georgetown at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC) where he was licensed to preach two years later; and
Whereas, he was elected and ordained itinerant deacon in 1977 at Trinity AMEC Columbia Conference in the Spartanburg District, and a year later, he was elected and ordained itinerant elder at Greater St. Luke AMEC at the Palmetto South Carolina Annual Conference in Charleston; and
Whereas, as a pastor, Reverend Drayton has blessed numerous congregations with his ministry, including Bethel AMEC in Frankfort, Ohio, from 1976 to 1978; Mt. Zion AMEC in Delaware, Ohio, from 1978 to 1980; St. Paul AMEC in Charleston, West Virginia, from 1980 to 1988; St. Paul AMEC in Canton, Ohio, from 1988 to 1992; and Moncks Corner AMEC in Moncks Corner from 1992 to 2001; and
Whereas, in 2001, he was appointed to serve as presiding elder of his home district, the Georgetown District at the Palmetto South Carolina Annual Conference, consisting of eleven thousand members, and five years later, he was appointed to serve as the presiding elder of the Columbia District at the Columbia South Carolina Annual Conference, consisting of seven thousand members. In 2014, Reverend Drayton was reassigned as the presiding elder of the Georgetown District of the Palmetto South Carolina Annual Conference; and
Whereas, through all these assignments, Reverend Drayton's devoted wife, Sister Pradensia Drayton, has eagerly supported and enriched his spiritual ministry. Additionally, Sister Drayton ably serves as the Georgetown District Area Consultant; and
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives deeply appreciates the godly influence of faithful South Carolinians, like Sandy Drayton, who dedicate their lives to the spiritual welfare of others. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Reverend Dr. Sandy William Drayton, Presiding Elder of the Georgetown District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, for forty-six years of faithful ministry to the African Methodist Episcopal Church, to his community, and to his God.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Reverend Dr. Sandy William Drayton.
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