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9/1/2008


MARGARET DRAKE

Ware Shoals, S.C. Margaret Dunn Drake, age 87, formerly of 45 Smith St., widow of James Howard “Slick” Drake, moved to her new life with Christ on Saturday, August 30, 2008.

Born in Donalds, S.C., she was the daughter of the late Jenny Ruth Dodson Dunn and John Robert Dunn. She grew up in Donalds and attended high school there where she was active in basketball, softball, drama and music. With her deep love for music, after high school she attended Erskine College where she studied and received her degrees in Music and French. Upon graduation from Erskine, she taught school outside of Greenville at Mt. View and then went on to teach at Clemson. She returned to her hometown of Donalds to marry her high school sweetheart, Howard Drake. She lived with her parents while Howard fought in the European Campaigns of World War II. While living in Donalds, she became active in the music program at Donalds Baptist Church where she later became the Choir Director, starting Junion and Youth Choirs along with the Adult choirs there.

After the war, Margaret and Howard moved to Ware Shoals. In 1950, she came to Ware Shoals First Baptist Church as the Music Director. She served as Minister of Music for many years, and was the organist for the music program with service of 44 years at Ware Shoals First Baptist. She is credited with developing the church music program at First Baptist by creating the choir programs for primary, junior, youth, and adult choirs. While serving as Music Director, she also taught private piano lessons in her home studio for over 50 years, supplying her church and other churches in the community with pianists for worship services , including Sunday School classes. In addition, she taught public school music during that time at both Honea Path and Ware Shoals. Through all these years, it is difficult to ascertain the number of individuals who were trained and greatly impacted by her mentoring, leadership and love. Her legacy is far reaching with students who have become pianists, organists, ministers of music, public school music teachers, and choir members all over the United States, even to those on mission fields from the Philipines to Turkey.

Margaret was also very active at First Baptist in the Women’s Missionary Union , Baptist Training Union, and taught Youth in Training Union along with her husband during the 1960”s and 1970’s. She was active as a member and served as an officer of the Greenwood Area Music Teachers’ Association and served on Alumni committees for many years at Erskine College in Due West, SC. She also contributed her time and talents to the local Band Boosters at Ware Shoals High School and assisted in many of the programs at the high school such as Variety Shows, Beauty Pageants and other community events.

Surviving are her three sons, Jim Drake and wife, Martha of Duncan, SC, Bob Drake and wife, Dianne, Ware Shoals ,SC and Ken Drake and wife, Kathy, Baton Rouge, La., six grandchildren; Brad Drake, Summerville, SC, Will Drake, Duncan, SC, Jason Drake and wife Leah, Greenville, S.C., Alyson Drake, Mauldin, SC, Maggie Drake, New York, NY, Mary Elizabeth Drake, Baton Rouge, La and two great grandchildren, Alexis Drake of Tacoma Washington and Gillian Drake of Greenville, SC.

Margaret was predeceased by three brothers, John R. (Bubba) Dunn, Jr., Sam Dunn and Bill Dunn all formerly of Donalds.

Memorial services will be conducted at 3 pm on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at Ware Shoals First Baptist Church by Rev. Leon Jones, Rev. Dan Compton and Rev. Dr. Floyd Parker. A graveside service will be held following the church service at the Greenville Presbyterian Church Cemetery at Shoals Junction, SC.

The family will receive friends in the church sanctuary from 1 to 2:30 pm prior to the service. The family respectfully request that flowers be omitted and memorials be made to the Margaret Dunn Drake Music Scholarship Fund, Erskine College, P.O. Box 608, Due West, SC 29639. This scholarship will provide a lasting legacy to Mrs. Drake’s deep love and faithfulness to Christ and His music and her love for others reflected in her life.

From one of her many students. “Mrs. Drake taught piano for a small fee to most of us for God’s glory, she took us to Ridgecrest and music festivals for God’s glory, she paid a child’s lunch that hadn’t brought money or had very little for God’s glory, even disciplined us for God’s glory ! She taught in our schools, played the piano and organ, led the choirs and taught us to read music, all for God’s glory. It was never about the money or fame with her. She has touched the lives of a multitude of us, and her dedication has been passed down for generations, and we hope generations to come”

The family is at their respective homes. Parker-White Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be made to www.parkerwhitepruitt.com