Newsoms - Linda Sue Jakeman Drake, 59, died August 24, 2008 after an eight year long courageous battle with cancer. Linda was born in Franklin, a daughter of the late George A. and Mary Ann Baker Jakeman, and was retired from the banking and insurance businesses. She was a faithful member of Barnes United Methodist Church.
Left to cherish her memory is her husband of 40 years, Rodger Ray Drake; two daughters, Gail D. Gagner and husband, Chris, of Nazareth, PA, and Cheryl D. Turner and husband, Scott, of Newsoms; five grandchildren, Heath, Kevin and Jordan Gagner and Colby and Shelby Turner; one sister, Mary Jane Ranson and husband, Frank, of Hampton; one brother, George A. Jakeman, Jr. and wife, Susie, of Plymouth, NC; and her father and mother-in-law, R. E., Jr. and Hilda Drake of Newsoms.
The funeral will be conducted at 2 pm Tuesday in the chapel of Wright Funeral Home with the Rev. Darwin Edwards officiating. Internment will follow in Hollywood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 pm today (Monday) at the funeral home and suggests memorials be made to Barnes United Methodist Church, c/o Mrs. Betty Darden, 33701 Statesville Road, Newsoms, Va. 23874 or The American Cancer Society, c/o Ms. Kathy Worrell, 717 Fairview Drive, Franklin, Va. 23851. The family would like to thank all of Linda's doctors and nurses and the staff of Virginia Oncology, especially, Dr. Thomas Alberico, Debbie Simmons, and Katie Caton, the medical staff of Sentara Leigh Hospital, second floor B wing, especially Dr. Alfonso Llano and Valerie LeGrone.