Rachel C. Drake

Rachel C. Drake, 92, passed away on Thursday, December 12, in Greenville, SC. She was born on August 20, 1932, in Landrum, SC.
Her parents passed away when she was a teen and her sister, Lathie Gaines, stepped in to care for her. Although orphaned at a young age, her drive enabled her to graduate from college, become a successful businesswoman and real estate broker, a consummate volunteer, a champion for causes she believed in, and if there was a Nobel prize for motherhood, she would have been a recipient. She always had a smile on her face and kind words that lifted others' spirits.
She was the recipient of a Byrnes Scholarship, given to high school students with exceptional academics who had lost one or both parents by death. She graduated from Winthrop University with a Bachelor's Degree in Home Economics. After college she taught school in Walterboro, SC, was a social worker at Epworth Children's Home in Columbia, SC, where she met her husband, Paul G. Gallo whom she married in 1960. She had three daughters, became widowed in 1969, and remarried in 1973.
She was predeceased by her first husband, Paul G. Gallo (1969), and her second husband, Judge Ralph W. Drake (2002), her brother Albert Calvert, her sisters, Ruby Dodd, Jeanette Pierce, Connie Parker, and Lathie Gaines.
She was a lifelong United Methodist and member of Landrum United Methodist Church, in Landrum, SC, and then Aldersgate United Methodist Church, in Greenville, SC, where she served on many boards.
She was a devoted Civitan for 34 years, and recently named a Lifetime Member for her dedication to helping people in need, particularly those with developmental disabilities. The mission of Civitan is "to build good citizenship by serving the needs of individuals and communities", which she did for many decades. She also supported the Salvation Army for 20+ years, ringing the kettle bell during the holidays.
She leaves behind her three daughters, to whom she devoted her life, Margaret Colquhoun (Steve), Paula Drake, and Michele Drake (Paul); many nieces and nephews; and lifelong friends.
A private graveside service will be held.
In lieu of flowers, you may make a contribution to the James F. Byrnes Foundation, http://www.byrnesscholars.org, or The James F. Byrnes Foundation, Post Office Box 6781, Columbia, SC 29260-6781.
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