Emily Mickle

Emily Jane Drakeford Mickle, 82 of Columbia, South Carolina died peacefully in her sleep the morning of April 29, 2024. She was born on November 26, 1941 in Camden, South Carolina to the late Deacon Steve Drakeford, Sr, and late Deaconess Mary Lee Drakeford. Emily was educated in Camden through the public school system of Kershaw County, graduating from Jackson High School in 1959.
She joined Macedonia Baptist Church in Camden, South Carolina at a young age. There she was baptized, sang on the gospel choir and remained a lifelong member. Emily belonged to a number of organizations in her life but the most beloved for her was the South Carolina Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Women’s Auxiliary. She joined the organization through VFW Post 4262 Auxiliary. Emily was a member for over 30 years. She served faithfully with their programs and events, eventually rising to serve as the South Carolina State President of the VFW Auxiliary organization in 2009.
She married Robert Dalton Mickle, Sr., right after they finished high school and remained married until his untimely death on May 17, 1986. They had two children, Chandra, her caring daughter and Robert, who was her dedicated caregiver the last four years of her life. After her husband’s passing, she had a loving companion in Edward Clifton until his death in March 2018.
In life Emily was known as a kind, hardworking, and fun-loving wife, mother, grandmother, sibling, friend and employee. She was also respected as an amazing cook (her fried chicken was unmatched) and punch maker. Her great joys in life were helping others and giving gifts to her grandchildren, family, friends and neighbors. She met and assisted numerous people through her many years of work as a team lead at JC Penney’s Home Store. She was well liked and appreciated by many throughout the Columbia Metropolitan Area.
Emily is preceded in death by husband, Robert Dalton Mickle, Sr.; her parents, Steve Drakeford, Sr and Mary Lee Drakeford; her brothers, Steve Drakeford, Jr, Blease Drakeford, II, and David Stanley Drakeford; sister, Faye Ann Drakeford Sumter; brother-in-law LeRoy Williams; sisters-in-law, Janie Adam Drakeford and Janee’ James Drakeford; and loving companion, Edward Clifton.
Emily leaves to remember her fondly: her devoted children, Chandra Mickle Lee (Irvin) of Tampa, Florida and Robert Dalton Mickle, Jr. (Ann) of Columbia, South Carolina; five grandchildren, Stephen Columbus Lee of Tampa, Florida, Robert Dalton Mickle, III of Rock Hill, South Carolina, Jordan Drakeford Mickle of New York, New York, Charis Morgan Lee of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Grace Alexandra Mickle of Winston Salem, North Carolina; her siblings, William Drakeford of Cary, North Carolina and Loretta Drakeford Williams of Aiken, South Carolina; brother-in-law, Arthur Sumter of Camden, South Carolina; sister-in-law, Agnes “Esther” Demeary Drakeford, Camden, South Carolina; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
We would also like to thank Andrea Williams, CNA for caring and praying for our mother faithfully for 3.5 years. She and her family have been a blessing to ours.