VIRGINIA BEACH—Mary Kathryn Beaty Draffin, 79, died May 26, 2008.

She resided at Westminster Canterbury on the Chesapeake Bay. She was born in Pavo, Ga. and came to Virginia Beach in 1958.

She was married to Virgil George Draffin for 54 years. Mary was a devoted and active member of Kempsville Baptist Church for more than 30 years before she moved on to her final church home at Colonial Baptist in Virginia Beach.

Mrs. Draffin enjoyed being part of the Jewels, taking classes, supporting the missions and seminary work and being involved with Missions to Military. She was widely known as a champion for brain injury services in Virginia.

She tirelessly walked the halls of the General Assembly petitioning our legislators for any kind of fund for a head injury program. From her perseverance, a small seed of a program has grown and there are now services and support for these individuals.

She lived the last several years at Westminster Canterbury where she discovered china painting, tai chi and started a Bible study. The residents and staff of Westminster Canterbury are very loving and caring and her time there was a blessing.

She was predeceased by her husband Virgil in 2002 and by her beloved son John in 2001.

Survivors include her daughters, Kathy Draffin of Merry Hill, N.C., Barbara Warren and husband Jimbo of Windsor and Janie Walters and husband Rob of Kitty Hawk, N.C.; three grandchildren, Jerimie Harrell and husband Jamie, and John and Micki Walters; and two great-grandchildren, Jordan and Jaxon Harrell.

A memorial service will be held Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Altmeyer Funeral Home, 5792 Greenwich Road, Virginia Beach.

Memorial donations can be made in lieu of flowers to Brain Injured Association of Virginia (BIAV), 1506 Willow Lawn Drive No. 112, Richmond, VA 23230.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.altmeyer.com