Laura Drake Obituary

Laura Maner Sanders Drake WALTERBORO - Laura "Maner" Sanders Drake passed away peacefully on December 24, 2010 after an extended illness. She was born in Charleston, South Carolina on June 15, 1927, and was the daughter of the late Edward Barrien Sanders and Laura Sams Sanders. "Maner" grew up in Ritter South Carolina on Aukland Plantation. She attended Hannah Moore Academy for Girls in Maryland, but transferred to and graduated from Ashley Hall in Charleston, South Carolina. On November 27, 1954, "Maner" married the love of her life, Richard B. Drake. She had a great love of reading, bridge, crafts and sewing, but her main love and focus was always her family and friends. After many happy years of living in South Carolina, she and her husband Dick retired to the mountains of North Carolina. She was never happier than when surrounded by her loved ones. Her generous spirit and unconditional love touched the lives of all that knew her, and she will be deeply missed. She will be greeted in heaven by her parents, her brothers Henry and "Bink" Sanders, and a host of friends and loved ones. She leaves behind a loving family who will miss her forever: Richard "Dick" Drake of Newland, NC, her children: Barbara "Boo" Drake Heslip (Paul) of Augusta, GA; Laura Drake Pirtle (Bill) of Charlotte NC; Richard Bouve Drake Jr. (Jill) of Holly Hill, SC; Elizabeth Drake Gossen (Ron) of Charleston, SC; her grandchildren Stephen and Graydon Bannister; Caroline Pirtle; Sam and Bea Salley; Emily and Mathew Gossen; and numerous beloved cousins and friends. Family will be receiving visitors from 5 to 7 p.m., on Wednesday, December 29, 2010, at Parker Rhoden Funeral Home in Walterboro, South Carolina. A grave side service will be held on Thursday, December 30, 2010, at 11 a.m., at Live Oak Cemetery in Walterboro, South Carolina. Memorials may be made in Maner's honor to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital on their website. Maner's family would like to offer special thanks to the loving nurses and staff at Life Care of Banner Elk and Watauga Medical Center who provided such devoted and exceptional care. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/ deaths