Jo Sue Draughon

Jo Sue Draughon, 81, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, August 13th. A native of Cumberland County, she was born August 10, 1945, to Joe and Dorris Knowles. She was the devoted wife of William Draughon, with whom she shared 64 years of marriage.

Their love story began in high school, when William first laid eyes on Jo Sue, a beautiful redhead who immediately caught his attention. He knew then that she was the girl he would one day marry—and he made sure she knew it. Jo Sue was also a gifted athlete and had a particular love for basketball. During her high school years, her talent and determination on the court earned her All-County honors as a tenth grader, as well as recognition as her team’s Best Defensive Player. Those who knew her would not have been surprised; Jo Sue was strong, determined, and never afraid to give her best.

For 64 years, Jo Sue stood faithfully beside her beloved William, sharing with him the joys, challenges, hard work, and blessings of a farmer’s life. She was much more than a farmer’s wife; she was his partner, encourager, and steadfast companion. Together, they built a life rooted in family, faith, hard work, and love. She was proud of the farm and the life they created together, and she understood the sacrifice and perseverance that came with being part of a farming family.

Jo Sue was a woman of deep faith whose life was a beautiful reflection of her love for the Lord. She was a devoted servant, a faithful wife, a loving mother and grandmother, and a friend who could always be counted on. Her faith was not simply something she professed; it was woven into the way she lived her life—with grace, kindness, generosity, and a genuine love for others.

Jo Sue was also a faithful member of the churches she and William attended throughout their lives. She loved Bible study, hymns, and Christian music, and her relationship with the Lord was evident to all who knew her. She quietly lived out her faith, leaving an example of what it means to love God, love your family, and love your neighbor. Those who knew Jo Sue best would say she was truly a Proverbs 31 woman—a woman of faith, strength, wisdom, diligence, and a heart devoted to her family. She lived out those qualities not for recognition, but simply because that was who she was.

Her greatest joy, however, was her family. She cherished being a wife and mother and treasured every moment with her children and grandchildren. She poured her love into her family in countless ways, always giving of herself and making those around her feel loved and cared for. As the mother of her special-needs son, Keith, she was his steadfast advocate and fiercest protector, loving him and standing up for him every step of the way. She made sure he was loved, cared for, and always had someone in his corner. Her grandchildren held a particularly special place in her heart, and she delighted in watching her family grow through the generations.

A true Southern lady, Jo Sue found joy in the simple and beautiful things of life. She loved her plants, working in her garden, canning, baking, studying her Bible, spending time with family, and taking trips to the beach and the mountains. She was famous for her homemade cookies, and her kitchen was often a place where something delicious was being prepared and lovingly shared. She had a generous spirit and a gift for making people feel welcome. Whether gathered around the family table, visiting with loved ones, or tending to the farm, Jo Sue had a way of bringing warmth and comfort wherever she was.

She leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured in accomplishments alone, but in the lives, she touched, the love she gave, the faith she shared, and the family she cherished. She was a woman who loved deeply, gave freely, and lived faithfully.

While our hearts are heavy with the loss of Jo Sue, we grieve with the hope that only faith in Christ can provide. We do not grieve as those who have no hope. We believe that she is now in the presence of her Lord, reunited with loved ones who went before her, and that this separation is only temporary. One day, by God’s grace, we will see her again.

Please join her family in celebrating the life of this remarkable woman—a loving wife, devoted mother and grandmother, faithful Christian, true Southern lady, and treasured friend. Her absence leaves a great void in the hearts of all who knew and loved her, but her love, faith, and memory will remain with us for generations to come.

Survivors include her beloved husband of 64 years, William Draughon; her children, Bill (Leann), Michael (Sherry), Keith, and Susan (Chad); and her grandchildren, Will (Haley), Maddie (Dakota), Joe (Ellen), Lauren (Chris), Dr. Gabe (Dr. Anna), Carson (Emma), Susan Abigail, Kaitlyn, Chad jr., Nicholas, Lilly, and Zeeke boy

She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, William V, Zoey, Brooxey, Jonah, Abigail, Abby, Easton, Augusta, Mason, Brigston, Colson, Emerson, and Willow; her mother, Doris Knowles; her sisters, MaryAnn (Steve) and Judy (Leighton); and her brother, Joe Knowles, Jr. (Dale)

She was preceded in death by her father, Joe Knowles Sr. and brother-in-law Leighton

The family plans to have a private celebration of life in the fall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lebanon Baptist Church 3329 Beard Road, Fayetteville, NC 28312