Reverend Dr. Loy C. Drew

The Reverend Doctor Loy Clarence Drew was born on September 3, 1939 to Lloyd and Arville Drew in Sarepta, Louisiana. He was a native of Louisiana, where he completed his formal and college education, including seminar training at Campbell College. He was preceded in death by both parent; his wife, Sylvia; two sons, Bronson and Bernard, one daughter, Heidi and two sisters.

Rev. Drew was married three times, first to Ernestine White Drew, where Clarence, Pamela and Carolyn were born to this union. His second marriage was to Dorothy Drew, where Bronson and Bernard were born to this union. His third and final marriage was to Rev. Sylvia Farmer-Drew.

Rev. Drew was confronted in his early teens at a revival one Friday night as the preacher concluded his service and the choir began to sing “Amazing Grace How Sweet the Sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now I’m found…Rev. Drew found tears uncontrollably rolling down his face, this night would mark a transformation of his life.

Rev. Drew holds a Doctorate of ministry degree from Central Christian University, where he served as an adjunct instructor for pastoral ethics. He also holds a Bachelor Degree and Doctorate of philosophy. After serving in the Eighth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, where he also pastored churches in his home district, he was transferred to the Fifth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and was ordained itinerant by Bishop Harrison J. Bryant.

As a community activist he was granted numerous honors including being recognized by President Bill Clinton at the White House in the Rose Garden for his leadership in helping the inner city of Wichita, Kansas to gain $8.5 million for urban development. He served as the president of Wichita’s Ministerial League, which was a representation of seventy-five congregations. Rev. Drew received an award from the National Conference of Community & Justice. As a farewell tribute to The Drew’s the city of Wichita proclaimed December 8 – 12, 1998 as Drew’s Week in honor of their community accomplishments.

Rev. Drew was the last senior pastor to serve at St. Paul AME Church in Olathe, Kansas. On November 19, 2006, he became the founder and senior pastor of Refuge of Hope Christian Ministries but on November 9, 2014, staying obedient and close to the Lord’s vision the name was changed to Refuge of Hope Community Church to better meet the needs of the community.

Rev. Drew enjoyed spending time with his family, church family and neighbors. His favorite places to eat were Village Inn and Perkins Restaurants. He also loved to watch The Young & The Restless and chat about it with his best friend. He enjoyed sports and loved to eat home cooked meals but always had a habit of putting a lot of salt on anything he ate even before he tasted it!

Rev. Drew departed this earthly life and was heaven bound on April 4, 2023. He leaves to cherish his memory, his children, Clarence Drew (Shreveport, LA), Pamela Drew and Carolyn Drew (Tyler, TX), Megan Spearman (De Soto, KS), Rebecca Reed (Fulton, MD) and William Drew (St. Paul, MN); a special niece, Pamela Williams (Lenexa, KS) and a special granddaughter, Alpha Ayanna (De Soto, KS); one brother, Doc Drew (Kansas City, MO), a best friend of many years, Rev. Steven A. Cousin, Sr., along with 20 other grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many other friends.

And as he would say….”I see…I see!”