Martinsville Sheriff Steve Draper, Virginia’s longest-serving sheriff, dies
Martinsville Sheriff Steve Draper was an avid motorcycle enthusiast. In this photo from an event at the Martinsville Farmers Market in August 2022, Draper is seen standing with his police motorcycle.
MARTINSVILLE — Sheriff Steve Draper, Virginia’s longest-serving sitting sheriff and a fixture in the city’s public safety community for more than five decades, died Saturday following a terminal pulmonary illness.
He was 73 years old. Draper had been hospitalized for the past several weeks.
The Virginia Sheriffs’ Association announced his death Saturday in a message from Executive Director John W. Jones. The Martinsville Sheriff’s Office confirmed Draper’s death in a statement released shortly afterward.
“It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that the Martinsville Sheriff’s Office announces the passing of our beloved Sheriff, Sheriff Draper,” the office said.
Draper had served as Martinsville’s sheriff for more than 32 years. He was elected in November 1993 and took office Jan. 1, 1994. The Virginia Sheriffs’ Association’s seniority list ranked Draper first among Virginia’s sheriffs, making him the longest-serving sheriff currently holding office in the commonwealth.
He was reelected without opposition in November 2025 and had begun his ninth term in January.
Draper was born in Martinsville in 1953 and remained a lifelong city resident. He graduated from Martinsville High School in 1972, earned an associate degree in administration of justice from Patrick Henry Community College and also attended East Tennessee State University.
His law enforcement career began in 1973 at the Martinsville Sheriff’s Office, where he worked as a jail correctional officer, court bailiff and civil process and transportation officer. He later entered private industry as safety and security director for Pannill Knitting Co., which Sara Lee Corp. later acquired.
Draper also served with the Martinsville Volunteer Fire Company and the Martinsville-Henry County Rescue Squad. He served as president of the volunteer fire company and as a rescue squad captain.
He was elected to Martinsville City Council in 1991 and served until he was sworn in as sheriff.
During his tenure, Draper was president of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association from 2008 to 2009 and chairman of the Piedmont Regional Criminal Justice Training Academy. His other service included appointments to state commissions and committees involving motorcycle safety, motor vehicle fraud, pandemic preparedness and corrections.
In a 2024 profile published by the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association, Draper recalled entering office near the bottom of the organization’s seniority list.
“When first elected, I was number 121, and now I am number 1,” Draper said.
Draper also pointed to programs such as Project Lifesaver, home electronic monitoring and the placement of school resource officers as accomplishments of his administration. He credited his staff and emphasized cooperation with other law-enforcement agencies and the community.
The sheriff’s office remembered Draper as more than an elected official.
“To the men and women of the Martinsville Sheriff’s Office, he was more than our Sheriff,” the statement said. “He was a leader, mentor, colleague, and friend.”
The office said Draper’s leadership and character helped shape the agency and that his influence would remain with the employees and community he served.
On Monday, 21st Judicial Circuit judges appointed Michael Law to serve as sheriff until a special election can be held in November 2027 to fill the remainder of Draper's term.
Funeral arrangements had not been announced Saturday. The sheriff’s office said additional information would be released after arrangements are finalized.
