Jasper Drake Obituary
Born in Castalia, NC August 29,1929 to Emelious Jasper and Pauline Boulden Drake, Enid grew up farming and developed a love of baseball, which he loved until his final days. After completing 2 years at Campbell College he went on to earn his bachelor's degree from Wake Forest College and a master's degree in physical education from East Carolina University. He pursued his love of baseball professionally from 1949 to 1956. He began his career as a teacher and coach in Middlesex, NC and in 1965 became the men's basketball coach at Louisburg College, a position he held until his retirement in 2006.
Enid was predeceased by his loving wife of 54 years, Merlene Hudson Drake and their daughters Debbi Drake and Robin Adams and his sister Josie Mae Drake.
Survived by his daughters Paula Smith (Ken), Cindy Spuria(Ed), Becky Allen, Son Jack Drake and son-in-law Joseph Spuria and his grandchildren, Nicki, Jamie, Drake, Annie, Alex, Henry, Gabe, Nick, Anderson and Kylenn, 5 great grandchildren and his sister Ellene (Nene) Leonard.
He is also survived by Linda and Jerry Ritch who walked beside him with love, service and devoted care for many years.
The family extends a special thank you to Shirley Parker for being a true blessing to Coach Drake for the past 18 months.
The family will hold a private burial and will announce a Celebration of Life to be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to
The Enid Drake Endowed Scholarship for Men's Basketball
Louisburg College.
ATTN: Institutional Advancement
501 N Main St
Louisburg, NC 27549
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
3 Entries
Don Whitaker
Yesterday
Coach Drake was an incredibly positive influence and mentor to hundreds of young men-certainly including me!
He instilled a competitive and disciplined approach, not only to basketball, but to life- and I have used those lessons for 50 years!
Thank you Coach for your strength and guidance to so many!!
God Bless,
Don Whitaker
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Wes Webb
February 8, 2026
In the 1970-71 school year the basketball players stayed in the house on the front of campus by the women's dorm. Playing the game the night before I sprained my ankle. I never knew Coach Drake to visit the house but once or twice and he was a man that didn't give you a bunch of rules to follow. Getting up for breakfast and attending your classes were two of them. On the mourning after my injury Coach Drake shows up in my room at about 8:00 ever so gently puts his hand on my ankle and asks me don't you have an 8:00 class? My roommate Butch English and I both got up dressed as quickly as possible and left. I do not think Butch even had a class that morning, but we had to leave! I do now know that a sprained ankle is not a reason to miss class.
I feel blessed for the lessons learned and time spent with Coach Drake. A life well lived!
Blue Edwards
February 7, 2026
On a conditioning run prior to my freshman season @ Lou U...I encountered Coach Drake at the finish. Feeling good about my 4th place finish, I was shocked when Coach Drake mentioned impressive it was and said if you jade that much at the end you must have run very hard in the middle. I never came in after anybody else after his words.
That´s the thing I appreciate the most about Coach Drake....he never wouldn´t us to accept anything less than our absolute best. Every time...!!
God bless you j Enid Drake. And thank you
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