William Earl Drake

William E. Drake, 69, of Benton Harbor, MI, passed away at his home on Sunday – Sept. 20, 2020. Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Funeral Home – 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI. William was born on March 26, 1951 in Winona, Mississippi to the late Jessie and Anna (McAdory) Drake. He was a graduate of Ferris State University and a member of the Fraternity Omega Psi Phi. William loved fishing, gardening, drawing, painting and tinkering by rebuilding computers. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. William is survived by his wife (whom he married on Nov. 6, 2015) Ramona; his children – Tomecca Thompson of St. Joseph, Awani (Jason) Jones of South Bend, and Keenen Thompson of Benton Harbor; step-children – Heather Caid of St. Joseph, Jeremy Burkett of Stevensville and Andy Burkett of Stuart, FL; six grandchildren and five step-grandchildren; sisters – Minerva Lassie, Dorothy Ferguson, Genette Byrd, Diane (Raymond) Walker and Kathryn Kraft; and a brother – -Edward Drake. He is preceded in death by a daughter – Rashunda Thompson and seven brothers. Mass of Christian burial will be on Friday – Sept. 25, 11:00am, at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church – 555 Delaware St, Benton Harbor, MI, with Father James Adams officiating. Burial will follow at Crystal Springs Cemetery in Benton Harbor. Visitation precedes the service from 10:00am-11:00am at the church. Friends wishing to leave the family a message of condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com