Monday, November 21, 2011 Twelve Oâ??clock Noon PROVIDENCE BAPTIST CHURCH 1106 TUSCALOOSA STREETGREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINAReverend Dr. Howard Allen ChubbsOfficiating~Reflections~Dignity, elegance, faith filled and grace are all words that describe Earliest Smith Drake. On November 19, 2011, she made a grand entrance into the Gates of Heaven. Earliest was born on February 19, 1937 the third child of the late Sylvester and Adelaide Jeffries Smith. She inherited a richlegacy of faith, character, and family. She was named for her paternal aunt Earliest Smith and as a child was affectionately called â??Little Earliestâ?? by her Daddy. She accepted Christ at an early age becoming a member of Bluestone Baptist Church, Pelham, NC and later became a faithful member of Providence Baptist Church, Greensboro, NC. She wasa graduate of the historic Booker T. Washington High School and Tennessee State University. Cornelius Drake and Earliest were married for fifty-six (56) years. She entered the world stage as Mrs. Drake teaching Business Education at her alma mater Booker T. Washington High School and then Reidsville Senior High School. Many young lives were impacted by Mrs. Drakeâ??s tutelage. She retired after thirty-two (32) years of educational service. In addition to her parents at the Great Reward, she has rejoined her brother Fred and sister Margaret. She leaves a legacy of love and reconciliation to her husband, Cornelius Drake; daughter, Alice Drake Patrice (Paul Patrice) Greensboro, NC; brothers, William Smith (Yvonne) Evanston, IL and Charles Smith (Mary) Roanoke, Virginia; sisters, Althea Inghram (George), Durham, NC and Estella Stacey, Reidsville, NC and a host of devoted nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins, and friends.