Essie Lee Ledwell Drake

Essie Lee Ledwell Drake was born to the late Oliver and Florence Ledwell on June 27, 1921. On May 29, 1944 she graduated from NC State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. On July 29, 1944 she received The High School Teacher's Certificate Class A for Home Economics. She moved to Sugarhill, NY and started sewing. In 1946 she married Warren Drake and in 1965 she started teaching in the Home Economics Department of the Department of Social Services in Nassau County, NY. She retired at the age of 81 and in 2010 she moved back to North Carolina and on October 19, 2015, passed away at the home of her granddaughter. In addition to her parents, Essie was preceded in death by her husband Warren Drake, sister Odessa Owens, and grandchildren Fredrick and Kenneth Patterson. She is survived by her daughter, Cascile Siler of Asheboro; granddaughters, Rene' Siegfried and husband Dennis of Siler City, Cheryl Patterson of Asheboro; grandson, Azel Patterson of Statesville, 10 great grandchildren; and 13 great great grandchildren. The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 22, 2015 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro.