Pearlene Ford Drake, 66, was born August 26, 1941 to the late Dock H. Ford and Sallie Staten Ford. She departed this life on April 1, 2008 in El Paso, Texas.
She united in holy matrimony on January 4, 1964 to Thomas L. Drake and to this union two children wee born, Sherri L. Drake and Thomas L. Drake.
Pearlene was preceded in death by her brother Milton Ford, her sisters Ivory Bell Mahama and Ethel Burks.
In August 1956 she accepted the Lord and joined Flint River P. B. Church under the leadership of Elder A. D. Hammond. She loved the Lord and she depended, trusted and leaned on Him in everything she did.
In 2001 she joined the Word of Life Ministries in El Paso, Texas where she labored faithfully under Pastor Albert and Evangelist Willie Mays. She sang in the choir and served on the Usher Board until her health would not permit her to do so. She was appointed a Church Mother on March 31, 2002 by Pastor Albert Mays. As Pearlene’s health declined, Pastor Mays remembers her uplifted spirit when asked how she was doing. She would always answer, “I’m still here.”
Left to treasure her memories are her husband Thomas L. Drake of El Paso, TX; her daughter Sherri Lynn Drake of Huntsville, AL; her son Thomas Layton Drake of El Paso, TX; her grandson, Mykel Christopher Drake of Huntsville; four sisters, Rosa Bradford and Inella Erskine of Huntsville, AL, Juelene Humphrey (Leo) of Hazel Green, AL, Mary Readus of Lansing, MI; two brothers, Harry Ford (Ella) and Freddie Ford of Lansing, MI; her in-laws: Vinnie Readus Drake of Stone Mountain, GA, Mid Drake (Elvira) of Birmingham, AL; Robert Drake (Eula) of Huntsville, AL, Harvey Drake of Harvest, AL, Oliver Drake (Willerene) of Harvest, AL, Callie Booker (Oscar) of Toney, AL, Mattie Johnson (George) of Decatur, GA, Anna Mae Johnson of Stone Mountain, GA, Sarah Lou Baker of Bakersfield, CA, Helen Drake of Huntsville, AL and many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.
Also left to treasure her memories are four special friends who will miss her many telephone calls and the precious time they spent together when she visited Huntsville: Pearlie Mae Battle, Vera Nell Haygood, Susie Green and Estelle Ayers.
Funeral services for Mrs. Drake will be held at 12:00 noon on Tuesday from the Flint River P. B. Church with Reverend Ross L. Payton officiating. Interment will be in Valhalla Memory Gardens with Nelms Memorial Funeral Home handling the services. The remains or Mrs. Drake will be in the church one hour prior to funeral time.