Virginia’s longest-serving sheriff was remembered Monday for his outreach, including eating lunch with kids in the school cafeteria.
Steve Draper, a Martinsville native elected as the city’s sheriff in 1993, died Saturday from a terminal pulmonary illness, according to the Virginia Sheriffs Association. Michael Law, a 19-year sheriff’s office employee, was appointed as interim sheriff Monday.
Law has worked for the sheriff’s office for 19 years and was Draper’s chosen replacement, said Jean Nunn, the city’s circuit court clerk. He has some of the same qualities that made Draper a great sheriff, like compassion.
“I think he can just continue some of Steve’s legacy,” Nunn said. “I know that Mike will be a good sheriff.”
Law will serve as interim sheriff until a special election is held on Nov. 2, 2027. The deadline to get a special election for sheriff on this November’s ballot was Aug. 5, said Sara Workman, the city’s registrar. The winner of next year’s election will serve for two years, which is the remainder of Draper’s four-year term. Draper, 73, was reelected for his ninth term in 2025.
The sheriffs’ association made note of Draper being the sheriff with the longest tenure in office in a Saturday press release. His career also included working at the Martinsville City Jail before seeking elected office and serving as the president of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association. He also served on the Martinsville City Council from 1992 to 1994 until he was sworn in as sheriff.
It was his personability, friendliness, strong leadership and support that kept him in office for more than 30 years, Nunn said.
Draper was a mentor to Nunn when she first started her job, but he was also a close friend, she said.
“I’m heartbroken,” Nunn said. “It’s a sad day for the city because he was a great sheriff and a great person.”
Mayor L.C. Jones said it was Draper’s willingness to be in the community that made him a great sheriff.
“He makes a friend out of everyone he encounters,” Jones said. “He was really a sheriff for the people.”
Draper would go to Patrick Henry Elementary School, where Jones’ son attended, and eat lunch with the kids, Jones said.
“It touched me the fact that he remembered my son’s name, but I learned that he remembered all the kids’ names,” Jones said.
John Jones, the sheriffs’ association executive director, said it was Draper’s love for his job and the people of Martinsville that kept him in office.
“The Virginia Sheriffs’ Association feels a profound loss with the death of Sheriff Draper,” Jones said. “He was an integral part of the VSA.”
Draper’s visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Mercy Crossing Church. The funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. at the church.
The Martinsville Sheriff’s Office did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.
