Obituaries

Race F. Drake

Photo of Race F. Drake
Race F. Drake Sr., 98, passed away peacefully at Moultrie Creek Nursing Home in St. Augustine, Fla. on Feb. 16, 2012. Race was born in Fayetteville, Ark. and resided in Little Rock, Ark. until moving to St. Augustine, Fla. in 2000. He graduated from Arkansas School for the Deaf in 1933 and Gallaudet University in 1938. He was a printer at the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock, Ark. for almost 40 years. Race was actively involved in the deaf community at local, state and national levels. He served on the Arkansas School for the Deaf School Board for many years and was its chairman during his last two terms. He was a treasurer for National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, Division No. 5 for many years. He was a member of Kappa Gamma Fraternity at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. He received a Lifetime Award from Arkansas Association of the Deaf in 2007 for his "lifetime" service, dedication, and contributions to Arkansas Association of the Deaf. Race excelled as an athlete, principally in football and basketball. He was inducted into several organizations' Hall of Fame: Arkansas School for the Deaf, Southwest Athletic Association of the Deaf, and Gallaudet University. In 2009, he was honored at Gallaudet University's 75th Homecoming Celebration as the last living member of the Bison football team that played at its first Homecoming in 1934.He also served as an honorary captain for the Gallaudet University football by flipping the coin at the start of the game. Another highlight in his life, Race was the first student at Arkansas School for the Deaf to attain the Boy Scouts of America's Eagle rank in 1933. A truly master storyteller in American Sign Language, Race is well known for his narration of the classics, which was used for fund raising projects of various organizations. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lorene; his parents, Pleasant M. and Bessie Drake and three siblings, Raymond E. Drake, Warren J. Drake and Donnel J. Drake. Survivors include his children, Race F. Drake Jr. (Jean) of Staunton, Va. and Donna F. Drake of St. Augustine, Fla.; two grandchildren, Darrell R. Drake (Abigail) of Washington, D.C. and Pamela D. Wayne (Chris) of Fredericksburg, Va. and one great-grandson, Jackson M. Wayne. A visitation will be held at Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth Funeral Home, 5800 W. 12th St., Little Rock (501) 661-9111 between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 27 A celebration of Race's life will be held in the funeral home chapel at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb 28 with Rev. Scott Walters and Rev. Bob Slagley, officiating. Burial will follow at Pincecrest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Race's memory can be made to: ASD Museum, c/o Arkansas School for the Deaf, 2400 West Markham, P.O. Box 3811, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or The Alumni House Maintenance Fund, c/o Gallaudet University, 800 Florida Ave. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002. To sign the online guestbook, go to www.griffinleggetthealelyroth.com.

Published February 26, 2012

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