Mrs Lulu Thorne Drew (née Christian)

Mrs James Vivian Drew (Lulu Thorne Christian) was born on 19 March 1878 probably in Greenport, County of Suffolk, New York State. She was the daughter of Henry Paul Christian and Louise Fisher.

She married James Vivian Drew, originally of Constantine, Cornwall who had emigrated to America in 1896 along with his brother, William. They lived in Greenport, NY where her husband and brother-in-law had a successful marble monumental business.

Lulu, her husband and nephew, Marshall Drew had travelled on the Olympic to Cornwall in late 1911 to visit her husband's relatives. For their return journey they travelled on Titanic, boarding at Southampton as second class passengers. Their cabin was next door to that of Mrs Emily Richards of Newlyn, Cornwall.

Lulu and Marshall survived the sinking in lifeboat 10. Both Lulu and her nephew were met in New York by her brother-in-law, William Drew who had been anxiousl y waiting for them for 3 days.

Lulu was appointed executrix of James Drew on 8 February 1913 and 2 days later presented her written claim against the Steamship Titanic and the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company Ltd. The claim comprised $50,000 for the loss of her husband and $565 for the loss of property and passage money.

She later commented that "I have never forgotten the sound of the screaming as the ship slid under, and I still occasionally have nightmares about the people going down."

Mrs Lulu Drew married Mr Richard Opie (born 7 January 1885; died in Westerly, RI, February 1970) in 1914, she settled in Westerley, Rhose Island in 1925. Lulu died on 2 June 1970 and was buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Ashaway, Rhode Island, USA. Her sister Fannie died in 1973 in the Bronx.

(Courtesy of Michael A. Findlay, USA)

Articles
Providence Journal, 4 June 1970, R.I. Woman, Survivor of Titanic, Dies at 92

Documents
Rhode Island Department of Health Certificate of Death

Contributors
Stephen Coombes, UK
Chris Dohany, USA
Phillip Gowan, USA
Brian Ticehurst, UK
Geoff Whitfield, UK

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