Celebration of Life for Beverly Ann Drake

  • The Grand Rapids Times
  • January 7th, 2022
Celebration of Life for Beverly Ann Drake

Beverly Ann Drake unexpectantly departed from this world at home on December 18, 2021.

She was born at St. Mary's Hospital on December 3, 1941. She was the second born child to Gerald Talton and Betty Jane Brown. She attended Sheldon Elementary School, south High School, Grand Rapids Junior College, Michigan State University and Grand Valley State University. Everyone who knew her, knew her as a scholar who was great with numbers. She was also an avid reader, who learned to read at the age of 3 years old.

After working several years in the private sector, she began her career in the public sector working for the City of Grand Rapids in 1971 as an administrative aide. She culminated her career in public administration as the Executive Director of the Area Community Services Employment and Training Council (ACSET) serving from 1985 to 2011. She accepted Christ at an early age and would walk right down Delaware Street to St. Luke African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. She was a very active member for over 50 years.

She served as the Preacher's Steward and Chair of the Board of Stewards for twenty-years, motst recently under the leadership of Pastor Dwight L. Gutridge. She tithed faithfully and gave generously by blessing other members of the church.

Beverly played an active role as the matriarch of the entire Brown Family, even prior to the passing of her mother in 2005, but especially for her nieces: Stasha Brown, Samara Osborne, Saquoia Mills, Nichole Fisher Megan Brown, Nechole Drake-McClendon and her hephews: Gregory Steven, Duane Jevon, Jerry, James, Michael Jr., Niko, Jaden Brown, and Kenneth Stovall. As well as her many great nieces and nephews that she would support in any way possible.

She also had lifelong friendships that lasted decades with Myrna P. Granderson, Vernita Perry, Inez Smith, Gloria Weekly, Alverrine Parker, Joyce Robinson, and Pearline Milton(known as the International Hens), John and Jane Hackbardt, Win Irwin, Donna Martin and Ellen James.

Beverly cherished all of her friends and enjoyed traveling, shopping, reading, dining and worshipping with them.

The International Hens were started by Vernita Perry and included; Eunice Deyer, Myrna Granderson, Beverly Drake, Nancy Truner, Frandes Gill, Mylese Hitchcock, Gloria Weekly, Ines Smith, Louise Harper, Pearline Milton and Geraldine Moore. The "Hens" is a Women's support group that tackles the issues of life for Black women. The group helped them navigate through trials and tribulations and pressures of society. They would meet with their children in tow. The ladies would bring a dish to pass and Beverly's shrimp salad was always a hit.

Over the course of the years Beverly served on the boards or committees of the following organizations: NAACP, Urban League, YWCA, YMCA, Founding member of Coalition for Representative Government, Project Rehab, Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Dyer Ives Foundation, MI Community Action Agency Association, MI Works Director's Council, Community Rebuilders, and Grand Rapids Community College Foundation.

She was also a member of the book club Red Hat Society and she served as co-chair for two GRPS school board campaigns. She was preceded in death by her grandparents,; Herman and Elizabeth Brown, and Ernest and Elizabeth Bellis, partents Gerald and Betty Brown, siblings Gerald Brown and Carol Porter and in-laws Joseph and Carrie Drake.

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