Mary Drake Obituary Mary Davis Drake November 27, 1933 － November 17, 2023 Newsoms, Virginia － Mary Davis Drake, 89, departed this world peacefully on November 17, 2023, with her loving family by her side. Her courageous battle with dementia ended just days before her birthday. Mary was born in Conway, North Carolina on November 27, 1933, to the late Judith and Raymond Davis. Upon graduation as salutatorian from Conway High School, she received her Associate‚Äôs Degree in Business from Chowan College. Mary began her business career with Rocky Mount Mills before accepting a position at the Bank of Conway as the assistant to the bank‚Äôs attorney and chief officer. She remained there until she met the love of her life, George Thomas Drake, Sr., whom she married in January 1958. She relished her role as the supportive wife of a successful farmer and took on the bookkeeping duties of the growing business. Mary and George took pride in the family they built together and especially cherished their most important titles as "D and DD" to their granddaughter, Ryleigh. An avid gardener, Mary enjoyed preparing home cooked meals using her fresh vegetables to create Sunday feasts for the family. She will always be remembered for her famous fried chicken, butterbeans, yellow squash, turkey stuffing, and sweet cucumber pickles. Mary also fulfilled Tommy‚Äôs numerous requests for a cheeseburger and fries with a meal that rivaled a "Shoney‚Äôs Big Boy"! Mary enjoyed reading, traveling, playing cards, and dancing in her spare time. She was a longtime member of Newsoms Baptist Church and enjoyed her role as the Vacation Bible School Director for many years. Mary also gave back to her community through her involvement with the Newsoms Woman's Club and as a PTA officer in the local schools. She was a past member of the Franklin Moose Lodge where she and George spent many weekends dancing with friends. In addition to her parents, Mary was predeceased by her loving husband of 65 years, George Thomas; brothers William, Harry Byrd, Joe, and Billy Davis; sister, Annie Frances Davis; sisters-in-law Mary Elizabeth Davis, Martha Davis, Marion Drake Poole and Loretta Drake Faison; brother-in-law Dick C. Poole; nieces Shelly Webb and Tonya Faison; and nephews Jeff and Joey Davis. Left to cherish her memory are her son, George Thomas "Tommy" Drake, Jr., (Debra); daughter, Lisa Drake Skeeters (John); and the apple of her eye, granddaughter, Ryleigh Elizabeth Skeeters. Mrs. Drake is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Peggy Davis and Carol Davis; brothers-in-law, Curtis W. Drake (Margie) and Mills B. Faison, Jr.; and many loving cousins, nieces, and nephews. A celebration of life funeral service will be held on Sunday, November 26, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in Newsoms Baptist Church, Newsoms, Virginia with the Reverends Tom Wallace and Curtis Faison officiating. Burial will follow in Hollywood Cemetery in Newsoms. The family will receive visitors on Saturday, November 25, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Wright Funeral Home in Franklin, Virginia and during other times at the home of Tommy Drake, 24254 Thomston Road, Newsoms. Memorial donations may be made to Newsoms Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 312, Newsoms, Virginia 23874 or Gentiva Hospice (in memory of Mary D. Drake), 595 Old Wagner Road, Petersburg, Virginia 23805. The family offers special thanks to Gentiva Hospice and Mary‚Äôs wonderful caregivers Angie Smith, Elizabeth Del Vecchio, Tonya Tyler, Kathy Williams, Towyna Davis, Tina Wilkerson, and Edna Worrell. Mary will be deeply missed and will always be remembered for her kindness and compassion. Obituary published on Legacy.com by Wright Funeral Home and Crematory － Franklin on Nov. 19, 2023. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See also: 1) https://www.wrightfuneralhome.org/obituary/Mary-Drake 2) https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/mary-drake-obituary?id=53631878 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Narrative summary of the obituary: Mary Davis Drake, 89, of Newsoms, Virginia, died on 17 November 2023. Born on 27 November 1933 in Conway, North Carolina, she was a business graduate, banker, and farmer's wife. Mary was known for her gardening, cooking, and community involvement. She was predeceased by her husband George. ### Narrative summary of funeral services: A celebration of life service was held on 26 November 2023 at Newsoms Baptist Church, Newsoms, Virginia. Burial followed in Hollywood Cemetery, Newsoms. Visitation was on 25 November 2023 at Wright Funeral Home, Franklin, Virginia, and at Tommy Drake's home in Newsoms. ### The Edited Obituary Mary Drake Obituary Mary Davis Drake November 27, 1933 - November 17, 2023 Newsoms, Virginia - Mary Davis Drake, 89, departed this world peacefully on November 17, 2023, with her loving family by her side. Her courageous battle with dementia ended just days before her birthday. Mary was born in Conway, North Carolina on November 27, 1933, to the late Judith and Raymond Davis. Upon graduation as salutatorian from Conway High School, she received her Associates Degree in Business from Chowan College. Mary began her business career with Rocky Mount Mills before accepting a position at the Bank of Conway as the assistant to the bank's attorney and chief officer. She remained there until she met the love of her life, George Thomas Drake, Sr., whom she married in January 1958. She relished her role as the supportive wife of a successful farmer and took on the bookkeeping duties of the growing business. Mary and George took pride in the family they built together and especially cherished their most important titles as "D and DD" to their granddaughter, Ryleigh. An avid gardener, Mary enjoyed preparing home cooked meals using her fresh vegetables to create Sunday feasts for the family. She will always be remembered for her famous fried chicken, butterbeans, yellow squash, turkey stuffing, and sweet cucumber pickles. Mary also fulfilled Tommy's numerous requests for a cheeseburger and fries with a meal that rivaled a "Shoney's Big Boy"! Mary enjoyed reading, traveling, playing cards, and dancing in her spare time. She was a longtime member of Newsoms Baptist Church and enjoyed her role as the Vacation Bible School Director for many years. Mary also gave back to her community through her involvement with the Newsoms Woman's Club and as a PTA officer in the local schools. She was a past member of the Franklin Moose Lodge where she and George spent many weekends dancing with friends. In addition to her parents, Mary was predeceased by her loving husband of 65 years, George Thomas; brothers William, Harry Byrd, Joe, and Billy Davis; sister, Annie Frances Davis; sisters-in-law Mary Elizabeth Davis, Martha Davis, Marion Drake Poole and Loretta Drake Faison; brother-in-law Dick C. Poole; nieces Shelly Webb and Tonya Faison; and nephews Jeff and Joey Davis. Left to cherish her memory are her son, George Thomas "Tommy" Drake, Jr., (Debra); daughter, Lisa Drake Skeeters (John); and the apple of her eye, granddaughter, Ryleigh Elizabeth Skeeters. Mrs. Drake is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Peggy Davis and Carol Davis; brothers-in-law, Curtis W. Drake (Margie) and Mills B. Faison, Jr.; and many loving cousins, nieces, and nephews. A celebration of life funeral service will be held on Sunday, November 26, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in Newsoms Baptist Church, Newsoms, Virginia with the Reverends Tom Wallace and Curtis Faison officiating. Burial will follow in Hollywood Cemetery in Newsoms. The family will receive visitors on Saturday, November 25, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Wright Funeral Home in Franklin, Virginia and during other times at the home of Tommy Drake, 24254 Thomston Road, Newsoms. Memorial donations may be made to Newsoms Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 312, Newsoms, Virginia 23874 or Gentiva Hospice (in memory of Mary D. Drake), 595 Old Wagner Road, Petersburg, Virginia 23805. The family offers special thanks to Gentiva Hospice and Mary's wonderful caregivers Angie Smith, Elizabeth Del Vecchio, Tonya Tyler, Kathy Williams, Towyna Davis, Tina Wilkerson, and Edna Worrell. Mary will be deeply missed and will always be remembered for her kindness and compassion. ### Vital Statistics Summary | Name | Mary Davis Drake | |---------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | Age | 89 | | Birth | 27 November 1933; Conway, North Carolina | | Death | 17 November 2023; Newsoms, Virginia | ### Table of Relationships | Name | Relationship | Residence | |----------------------------|----------------------|-------------------------------| | Mary Davis Drake | Decedent | Newsoms, Virginia | | George Thomas Drake | Predeceased Spouse | -- | | Judith Davis | Predeceased Parent | -- | | Raymond Davis | Predeceased Parent | -- | | George Thomas Drake, Jr. | Child | Unknown | | Lisa Drake Skeeters | Child | Unknown | | Ryleigh Elizabeth Skeeters | Grandchild | Unknown | | William Davis | Predeceased Sibling | -- | | Harry Byrd Davis | Predeceased Sibling | -- | | Joe Davis | Predeceased Sibling | -- | | Billy Davis | Predeceased Sibling | -- | | Annie Frances Davis | Predeceased Sibling | -- | | Peggy Davis | Sister-in-law | Unknown | | Carol Davis | Sister-in-law | Unknown | | Curtis W. Drake | Brother-in-law | Unknown | | Mills B. Faison, Jr. | Brother-in-law | Unknown | ### Other Relevant Information 1. Graduated as salutatorian from Conway High School 2. Received Associates Degree in Business from Chowan College 3. Began business career with Rocky Mount Mills 4. Worked at Bank of Conway as assistant to the bank's attorney and chief officer 5. Married George Thomas Drake, Sr. in January 1958 6. Served as bookkeeper for the family farming business 7. Avid gardener and cook, known for Sunday family feasts 8. Famous for fried chicken, butterbeans, yellow squash, turkey stuffing, and sweet cucumber pickles 9. Enjoyed reading, traveling, playing cards, and dancing 10. Longtime member of Newsoms Baptist Church 11. Served as Vacation Bible School Director for many years 12. Involved with Newsoms Woman's Club 13. Served as PTA officer in local schools 14. Past member of Franklin Moose Lodge 15. Battled dementia in her later years ### Publication Details | Place | Name | Date | |-------------|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------| | Legacy.com | Wright Funeral Home and Crematory , Franklin | 19 November 2023 |