– OBITUARY –

On July 6, 1942, John and Lucille Drakeford welcomed their third child, Louvenia “Jip” “Lou” Drakeford. Neither Camden, Kershaw, nor New York would ever be the same. Jip, as she was affectionately known, was born in Kershaw County, South Carolina. The house on Cemetery Street was her first home, and both Kirkwood Elementary and Jackson High School played integral roles in her early education. The church was always in her heart. What started as a visit with her sister transformed into a new home with a Central Park address; truly, a New Yorker was born!

If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere…

Jip was a people person, and her skills served her well as her career evolved from “working for the man” to owning a hot dog stand with two stools – that was the neighborhood hangout on 123rd and 7th Avenue in Harlem. During her time managing a Bronx restaurant, her gift for conversation kept the tables full and the food flowing. After years of food service, Jip’s next venture returned her to Harlem. She went uptown to 159th Street! There, she started a new business. And we can all tell you that Hidden Figures wasn’t just a movie; Jip was all about the dollars and the cents! She was a born entrepreneur. As her health challenges increased, Jip eventually retired to her home in Westchester County. She would eventually be joined by her daughter, Giya, who for many years provided extraordinary care and companionship. On the evening of January 8, 2026, God saw fit to call his child home.

My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest Ex. 33:14

Jip was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, John Drakeford, and her sister, Mary Sue Truesdale. Left to cherish her memory are her son, Kelvin Drakeford (Cassandra), Charlotte, NC; daughter, Giya Drakeford, Yonkers, NY; two grandchildren, LaTavia and Kelvin Kevion Connor, Cruz, Kelvin Jace, Liam and Levi; five great grandchildren, (Woody), New York, NY; Louise Adamson (Robert), Houston, TX, a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, god-daughter, Sonia Madison (Gary), Waterbury, CT, and a special person in her life, Thomas Blakeney.