Born in 1948 in Colquitt County, he was the son of the late James Hampton Drake and Avis Hinley Drake. He was a 1968 graduate of Moultrie High School and attended Marsh Business College in Atlanta. Mr. Drake served in the U.S. Army Reserve and was the owner of Drake Property Management. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club and the St. Marks Social Club. Mr. Drake was a direct descendant of the Salzburger family, pioneer settlers of Chatham and Effingham Counties. He was a beloved father and grandfather.

Surviving are daughters Misty Suzanne Drake of Covington and Laura Drake Malone and husband Alex of Moultrie; step-son Mark Cochran and wife Denise of Toccoa.; sister Letitia Drake Ballard and husband Doyle of Morven.; brother John Harn Drake and wife Margaret of Quitman; grandchildren Meagan Mullins, Avis Malone and Naomi Malone as well as many extended family members.

Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009, at Cobb Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Hugh Ward officiating. Interment will follow in Pinecrest Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8p.m. Jan. 7, at Cobb Funeral Chapel in Moultrie.