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Submitted: 1/28/20 • Approved: 11/27/20 • Last Updated: 11/30/20 • R1294217-G0-S3
James 04 Feb 1930 - 28 Mar 2017
Jackie 05 Jan 1934 - pre-need
Marriage: 16 Dec 1955
James William Drake husband of Jackie (Billingsley) Drake. James William Drake son of Theodore Robinson Drake and Frances Billings Drake.
*Obituary
James W. Drake
February 04, 1930 - March 28, 2017
James William Drake, son of the late Theodore Robinson Drake and Frances Billings Drake, was born February 4, 1930 in Malvern, Arkansas. He departed this life March 28, 2017 at his home in Clifton, Texas at the age of 87 years and 24 days.
While attending the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, he met a nurse named Jackie Billingsley. They were married December 16, 1955. After graduating with a Masters Degree in Public Health, James went on to have a 38 year career. His first job was with the Arkansas Health Department, drawing blood for studies. Later he went to work for the Center for Disease Control and was assigned to Memphis, Tennessee. After being transferred to Dallas he spent ten years coordinating the state wide immunization program. At the time of his retirement he was the Chief of Staff of Service for Disease Prevention. He spent his life as a loving son, brother, father, uncle, grandfather, provider and friend. James was of the Baptist faith and a member of Prairie Valley Baptist Church in Whitney, Texas.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years: Jackie Billingsley Drake of the home; one daughter: Alice Mildred Drake of Leander, Texas; one granddaughter: Jasmine May of Leander, Texas; one brother-in-law: Glen Billingsley and wife Joanna of Violet Hill; one sister-in-law: Carol Sexton and husband Bernard of Franklin and a host of other relatives and many good friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved maternal grandmother: Alice Billings.
Graveside funeral service will be Friday, March 31 at 11:00 a.m. at Violet Hill Cemetery with Randy Bailey officiating under the direction of Eddie’s Family Funeral Home in Melbourne.
Obituary provided through and courtesy of Eddie's Family Funeral Home Melbourne, Izard County, Arkansas published Mar 2017. © Copyright 2012 - 20 Eddie's Family Funeral Home. All Rights Reserved.
Contributed on 1/28/20 by sandhollow
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Record #: 1294217