Pastor Margaret Sumbry-Draughn, 65, passed away in her home in Toms River, NJ on Oct 31, 2015.  She was born on April 21, 1950 to the late loving parents of Evelyn Sumbry and George Henry Sumbry at Mercer Hospital in Trenton, NJ.

Known to many in the Lakewood community as "Pastor D"…Evangelist Draughn, Minister Sumbry, Sis Sumbry-Draughn, or Momma Draughn.  Growing up, Pastor Draughn attended the East Windsor School District.  In June of 1968 she graduated from Hightstown High School.

Immediately following graduating from High-school Pastor Draughn went on to attend and graduate from Benedict College in Columbia, SC. In the fall of 1970 she was initiated into the Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. where she held the position as the Ivy Leaf reporter.

At the very young age of 9, while growing up in the Emmanuel Pentecostal Church in Hightstown New Jersey, under the Pastoralship of Overseer CF Jackson, Pastor Draughn received the gift of the holy ghost.  From this young age she was taught that "only what you do for God in life would stand".  Pastor Draughn then embraced her role as a soldier "in the army of the Lord".

Pastor Draughn reported at the age of seven that she remembered her pastor preaching about everyone taking a job in a church and working together for the Lord. Pastor Draughn stated that upon hearing this she felt compelled to remove the dirty chair covers from the church seats, take them home, wash them, iron them and put them all back on the church seats before the next Sunday's service. Pastor Draughn recalled upon the Pastor returning to church and finding out that she had done this task, he immediately commended her and "the church's members began shouting".  We believe that this encounter at this young age was the beginning of Pastor Draughn's life journey, at which time she exhibited such strength and commitment to working for the Kingdom of God.

Determined to stay true to her Christian upbringing and her commitment to helping people, Margaret returned to the State of New Jersey where she began a career as a Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor at the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.  Margaret spent over 35 years working to help people with disabilities find jobs and resources to become productive members of society.  She was also a certified social worker, certified school social worker, and a local public notary.

In May of 2007 she received various awards and certificates of Appreciation from the State of New Jersey Department of Labor for over 35 years of excellent service, the Customer Excellence award from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and the Excellence award from the State of New Jersey Legislature.

After retiring from the State of New Jersey in May of 2007 Margaret continued to stay determined to work and give back to her community, so she began volunteering with the Ocean County Child Placement Review Board.  She was also a leader and chairman of the Ocean County Juvenile Justice Commission Board up until a brief period of illness.

While always maintaining a stable home and being a constant provider and supporter of her four children, Margaret lived by the Moto of … "It's not what people do to you but, it's how you respond to them, God is going to hold you accountable for".   With this moto, Pastor Draughn continued a lifelong commitment to Christ. While living in Lakewood for decades she attended various churches where she was able to grow spiritually all while nurturing and maintaining a love and close relationship with her lord and savior Jesus Christ.

On August 10, 1999 Margaret Sumbry-Draughn was married to Deacon Walter R. Draughn. From the initial onset of their marriage, they began working together to bring more souls to Christ. Pastor and Deacon Draughn were known in the community for finding children and families and teaching them about the love of Jesus Christ.

Known by many in the Lakewood Community for her love and  her calling for working with young people, Pastor Draughn spent many years learning and growing in Ministry in various capacities which included positions as a Sunday school teacher, choir director, jr. missionary, missionary, and evangelist,  until she was eventually called to the position of Pastoralship. Pastor Draughn founded Christ's Mission Center in 1998.  After working in the Community for many years she obtained her pastoral license from Intercessory Tabernacle Ministries (I.T.M.) under the Pastoralship of Apostle Thomas E. Simpson Sr.

Pastor Draughn always advised that God had given her the vision to start a ministry and a church that would totally be bible based and solely grounded in the word of God.  Pastor Draughn believed that those who attended and/or came through Christ's Mission Center would have a solid bible based Christian Foundation which their salvation would be built on. This being so, a constant phrase one would hear while attending Christ's Mission Center would be  "Where is that found in the Bible?"

The members of Christ's Mission Center under the direction of Pastor Draughn were taught to 1. Develop a close relationship with god through reading and having a sound understanding of the bible, 2. Living by God's holy commandments, and 3. Repenting and asking God for honest and true forgiveness if and when mistakes were made.  Pastor and Deacon Draughn continued to work within the Lakewood and surrounding communities bringing souls to Christ and teaching people about Christ's love and how to live a saved and holy life.

To know Pastor Draughn was to know Love. To know Pastor Draughn was to have a close friend. To know Pastor Draughn was to know that if she had it … you had it.  At various points through the ministry Pastor Draughn was able to lead over 75 children and their families.  If she didn't have it to give, than she would always point one in a direction where they could get the help that they needed.

A Pastor to some, a friend/confidant of many, and a mother to many more, Pastor Draughn truly embraced everyone whom she got the opportunity to interact with.  Pastor Draughn's practical and logical ability to teach and preach the word of God drew many people to love and cherish the wisdom and logic which God bestowed upon her life. A blessed and highly favored virtuous woman,  Pastor Draughn was able to not only teach about the goodness and fullness of God from the word but she was also able to provide her personal experiences to others as a testimony that God was able help them overcome any problem and/or circumstance that they could ever face in life. In her words "No matter what the problem may be, remember that God has the final say".

Pastor Draughn's favorite things to do were to spend time with her family whom she cherished.  She loved and adored her children and loved and allowed her grandchildren to get away with things that her children would never dream of doing. Pastor Draughn also loved to cook… which her family will miss very dearly.  She truly loved her spiritual and biological family. She believed that God had given her strength, courage, and wisdom which she was obligated to share with others.

Known as the Matriarch of her New Jersey family, Pastor Draughn was known for her consistent honesty, compassion, and love that she innately showed towards others.  Those close to Pastor Draughn can attest to her constantly wanting to do more work for the Kingdom of God. In her words "God has called me to go out and reach these souls" and her commitment to God's kingdom was unrelenting.

On October 31, 2015 Pastor Margaret Sumbry-Draughn transitioned to heaven surrounded by the presence and love of her three children and husband after initially being diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 1998.  In the words of Pastor Draughn "I'm already blessed as God gave me additional time to see my children get grown, I was able to see my grandchildren, and I know that I have taught y'all the right things to do… Hold onto what you know is right…be there for each other… and know that I love y'all".

Pastor Draughn spent her life giving and believing in others. But the greatest testimony of Pastors Draughn's life is the consistency that she showed First to God.. Second to her family, and Third to the Church and the surrounding community.

Proverbs 31: 25-31

25: Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come

26. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness

27.She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness

28 Her children arise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all

30. Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the lord, she shall be praised.

31. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Without a doubt all who knew Pastor Draughn and her love would agree that she was blessed …and we were blessed to have had her in our lives.

Pastor Margaret Sumbry-Draughn was predeceased by her daughter, Michelle Lynn Jackson (2009); father, George Henry Sumbry (1997;) and mother, Evelyn Sumbry (1994).

She leaves to cherish a lifetime full of love, laughs, and memories for her loving husband, Deacon Walter R. Draughn of Toms River,  NJ; daughter, Thea M. Jackson of Lakewood, NJ;  two sons, Barry G Kearney, II of Toms River, NJ; and Christopher and Summer Kearney of Claymont, DE; special god sent daughter, Genita Moore of Lakewood, NJ; her pride and joy were her grandchildren, Christopher George Kearney, II, Barry G Kearney, III, Terri'Onna S. Kearney, Bryson George Kearney, and Michelle Lynn Jackson-Byers; twin sister, Marie and Oscar Ceres of Houston, TX; two brothers, Aula Maarufu Sumbry and friend Iva Mcbride of Burlington Township, NJ, and  Nathaniel and Lisa Sumbry of Houston; TX; Pastor Draughn's legacy will also continue to live on through the Christ's Mission Center Family; as well as a host of god-children, nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and friends.

In short, to say that Pastor Draughn will be missed is an understatement; but as she would often say "if we live right according to God's word we believe that we will one day be able to see each other again in the New Jerusalem".

Pastor Margaret Sumbry-Draughn a blessed and beloved Mother, Wife,  Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Cousin, Pastor, Teacher, Preacher, Confidant, Therapist, Advocate, Advisor, Cook, Friend, and most of all our valued  virtuous Woman of God,  will be truly missed… until we meet again…