Newsoms – Alma Lee Joyner Drake, 87, loving wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away July 4, 2011 at her home. She was a homemaker. She was born in Southampton County, a daughter of the late Jay Gould Joyner, Sr. and Mary Blythe Joyner, and was predeceased by a grandson, William Gould Drake; a sister, Eunice J. Madron, a brother, Earl Joshua Joyner, and a sister-in-law, Catherine D. Winslow. Mrs. Drake was a member of Newsoms Baptist Church.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 61 years, Claude Drake, Jr.; two sons, Claude Dennis Drake and his wife, Patty of Franklin and Michael Gould Drake and his wife, Rebecca of Newsoms; one daughter, Cindy D. Richmond and her husband, Joe of Newsoms; six grandchildren, Susan D. Fisher and her husband John Bissonnette of Fairfax, Amanda D. Hall and her husband, Jeffrey of Sedley, Wendy L. Drake of Roxobel, NC and her fiancé, Adam Burgess of Pendleton, NC, Westley B. Drake, Ryan J. Richmond, and Christopher D. Richmond, all of Newsoms; two great-grandchildren, Neva Grace Hall and Charlie Hall; one sister, Mary J. Hasty and one brother, Jay G. Joyner, Jr.; one sister-in-law, Louise D. Pixley all of Franklin; and nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be conducted at 2 pm Thursday, July 7, 2011 at Newsoms Baptist Church with the Rev. Jason Wise and the Rev. Kenneth Williams officiating. The interment will follow in Hollywood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 pm Wednesday at Wright Funeral Home, Franklin. Memorials may be made to Newsoms Baptist Church, P. O. Box 312, Newsoms, VA. 23874.