Clare H. Draper III

Clare Hill Draper III of Birmingham, Alabama, went to be with his beloved Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on August 28, 2018. Clare was predeceased by his parents, Clare Hill Draper, Jr. and Helen Watkins Draper, as well as by his wife, Eulalie (Lelie) Jenkins Draper.

Clare sought to live out Jesus’ love for those around him. Always grateful for God’s love for him, Clare recovered miraculously from a stroke 20 years ago and kept by his bed a framed copy of Psalm 116, including the lines “The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me…Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord save me!” For You, Lord, have delivered me from death,…that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.”

Clare grew up in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he attended Pine Street School before heading off to middle school at Christ School in Arden, North Carolina. He then attended Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, where he was a good student and an elected student leader, played football and basketball, and helped lead the tennis team to the National Prep School Championship.

While studying at the University of Virginia, Clare played tennis, was an end on the football team and won the intramural boxing championship. He later received a degree in textile engineering at Clemson University where he played #1 on the tennis team. After college, he served his country as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army at Ft. Benning in Columbus, Georgia.

On December 8, 1956, Clare married Eulalie Thomas Jenkins, at St. Mary’s on the Highlands in Birmingham. Lelie and Clare began their married life in New York, New York, where Clare worked in the textile business at Burlington Mills and Lowenstein Mills. In 1958, they returned to Birmingham and Clare joined his father-in-law, Raleigh Jenkins, at Jenkins Manufacturing Company, a maker of windows and doors. The company later relocated to Anniston, Alabama where Clare and Lelie lived for 30 years. Clare served as president of Jenkins Manufacturing Company for many years until he and Raleigh Jenkins sold the company. He was active in his industry nationally, serving in several leadership roles, including as president of the National Sash and Door Jobbers Association. He also sat on the boards of AmSouth Bank and other organizations. Clare and Lelie were long-time members of Grace Episcopal Church in Anniston where Clare served on the vestry. When they returned to Birmingham in 1994, they became members of the Cathedral Church of the Advent and Clare was actively involved with Community Bible Study.

Clare was a member of the Sons of the Revolution, the Society of Colonial Wars, the English Speaking Union, the Newcomen Society, Rotary, Anniston Country Club, Mountain Brook Club and The Club in Birmingham.

Clare had a lifelong love of sports and took great pleasure in any kind of creative endeavor. Tennis was his favorite sport, and he carried that enthusiasm throughout his life. He was the number one junior player in South Carolina and later earned regular top southern and national rankings well into his seventies. During summers at his family’s house in Hyannisport, Massachusetts, Clare developed his passion for sailing, traveling around Cape Cod and racing in regattas with his grandfather. He later sailed in the America’s Cup trials. He was a talented amateur painter, sculptor, and woodworker and spent untold hours in his home shop working on a range of projects.

Clare was devoted to his wife and family. He loved Lelie with all his heart and was a wonderful husband, cherishing her throughout their 59 years of marriage. A wonderful role model, he delighted in his children and grandchildren, teaching them, encouraging them, taking an interest in all of their activities, and spending time with them on the tennis court. Whether sharing an encouraging word or a piece of thoughtful advice, helping work out a problem, or playing a practical joke, Clare lived out his love for his children every day. Lelie used to say that no one loved his family more than Clare. He was a gracious gentleman and was loved for his sense of humor, gentle toughness, kindness, respect for others, and his upbeat attitude in both good and trying times.

He is survived by his three beloved children, Clare Hill Draper IV, and his wife, Laura, of Atlanta, Georgia; Eulalie Crommelin Draper Given and her husband, Robert, of Birmingham; and Raleigh Jenkins Draper of Atlanta. He is also survived by his cherished grandchildren, Margaret Crommelin Draper, Clare Hill Draper V, Thomas Rains Draper, Robert Sommerville Wilkerson Given, Jr., Eulalie Crommelin Draper Given, and Ellen Elizabeth deBerniere Given; his brother, Frank Watkins Draper and his wife, Fontaine; nieces Katherine Sutherland Patton and husband, Donny, and Helen Draper Young and husband, Brad; nephew Alexander Yearley Draper and his wife, Mindy, and many cousins and godchildren.

The family would like to give special thanks to devoted caregivers Sherrell Curtis, Lisa Hardrick, and Carmen Medrano who have loved, comforted, and cared for Lelie and then Clare for almost 10 years and have been a blessing beyond words to our entire family.

A memorial service will be held at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, AL on Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. CDT. Visitation and a reception will follow the service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent.

Memorials may be sent to the Cathedral Church of the Advent, 2017 6th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203, Children’s Hospital, 2112 11th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205, or a favorite charity.