James Madison Drake, Jr.

January 30, 1944 - March 25, 2020 James Madison Drake, Jr., departed this life on March 25, 2020 at the age of 76. He was born to Grace Henson Drake and James Madison Drake, Sr. on January 30, 1944. James attended and graduated from Bradley High School at Bradley, Arkansas. He graduated with a BSE and MSE from Henderson State University at Arkadelphia, Arkansas. In the summer of 1963 at Henderson, he met Sharon Sue Sharp, who became his wife on November 27, 1963. They were married for 56 years. James' first teaching position was January - June 1966 at Mt. Pine Arkansas. He then went to Bismarck, Arkansas as head teacher at New DeRoche for 3 years. He and Sharon moved to Texarkana in 1969 where he became Principal of Union Elementary until 1973. James served as Vice Principal at Texarkana Arkansas High School from 1974-1976. He taught one year at College Hill Junior High and then returned to Arkansas High for 3 years as Principal from 1977-1980. The following three years were spent at Liberty Eylau High School as Principal. Next, he was bitten by the personal computer bug and owned Victor Computers for two years. IBM then took over business personal computers, and he returned to teaching the Adult Education GED Program in Texarkana, Arkansas for the next seventeen years, retiring in 2004 with health issues. James was active in Boy Scouts of America, where he earned the rank of Life Scout before his troop disbanded. He also earned brotherhood in the Order of the Arrow. As an adult, he served as Scout Master for Troop 86. He attended the National Jamboree in 1960 He was preceded in death by his parents. Left to mourn his passing are his wife Sharon, his daughter, Andrea Drake Stephan of Rockdale, Texas, and son, Stuart Brian Drake of Texarkana. His three grandchildren, Alexander Lee Drake, Victoria Caroline Drake and Elizabeth Marie Drake are of Hartwell, Georgia. Open come and go visitation will be Thursday, March 26, 2020 from 11 A.M. to 5 P.M at East Funeral Home-Moores Lane. Graveside funeral service will be 10 A.M. Friday, March 27, 2020 at Walnut Hill Cemetery in Bradley, AR with Brother Craig Jenkins officiating. Condolences may be left at www.eastfuneralhomes.com.