Calvin Eugene Drake Sr

Calvin Eugene Drake, Sr., was born March 27, 1940 to the late Mr. Bartholomew Drake and Mrs. Sara Bessie (“Ma Bessie”) Roberts Drake Thomas in DeKalb, Kemper County, Mississippi. Calvin was the eleventh child in the family until Ma Bessie married Mr. John Albert Thomas after the death of Mr. Irby Drake, Sr., then there were eleven stepsisters and brothers added to the family. Calvin enlisted in the United States Army for a short tour of four years and realized the Army was not for him. He immediately enlisted in the United States Air Force and retired after 21 years of service. After retiring from the Air Force, Calvin was employed by the United States Postal Service as a Letter Carrier and retired August 30, 2000, after 21 years of service. Calvin leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife, Sara (“Sugar”), one son, Calvin Drake, Jr. of Dallas, Texas; four daughters, Sandra Drake Redmond, of Fort Worth, Texas, Symone Franklin, of Fort Hood, Texas; Serelia Franklin Ball, of Mansfield, Texas and Samantha Franklin, of San Antonio, Texas; eleven grandchildren, Zahmarr Brown, Bryce Drake, Jessica Redmond, Anthony Drake, Braxton Redmond, Briana Redmond, Derrius Henry, Karter Franklin, Kennady Franklin, J’Lyssa Ball and Skye Franklin; one brother, Irby Drake, Jr., Hattiesburg, Mississippi; sisters, Dorothy Witherspoon, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Gladys Thomas, of Chicago, Illinois, and Mae Ola Barber, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and a host of nephews, nieces, family and friends.