Mr. William Aubrey Drake

Billy's Journey: William Aubrey Drake, affectionately known as "Billy," was born on January 9,1956 in Detroit, Ml to his loving parents, William and Eugene Drake, who both preceded him in death. At a young age, Billy accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. Billy was educated in the Detroit Public Schools. He attended Bellevue Elementary, Miller Junior High and Southeastern High School. Realizing the importance of education, he later received his GED. Billy was very intellectual. He was often known to articulately conduct conversations on a variety of different subjects including politics and world events. As a young man Billy began his employment at Chrysler Cooperation. He then went on to become a typewriter repair technician for Gilson Ayres. He returned to Chrysler-Warren Truck Assembly in 1995, where he remained employed for over 20 years until his untimely departure. Raised in a home filled with strong moral values and an abundance of tender loving care, Billy was always "spoiled" by his three sisters. The four of them traveled as an entourage. They frequently went to parties, concerts and gatherings, together. They attended sporting events and held late night conference calls that ended when the birds began to chirp. Although Billy loved all sports, his fascination with baseball began as a kid when he joined a little league team. The great Willie Horton of the Detroit Tigers was his mentor. Later, he enjoyed umpiring his nephew's little league games. Over the years he became such a baseball enthusiast, that his family referred to him as Ernie Harwell. His passion for sports also extended to basketball, football and many others. He was extremely knowledgeable and could settle a dispute about any game or player, regardless of the era, at the drop of a hat. Many would go on to challenge his knowledge only to be embarrassed when he proved them to be wrong. Later in life, Billy also developed a passion for ballroom dancing. He was smooth on his feet, and had a signature move that he usually showcased to the music of his favorite group, The Temptations. He was the ultimate leading man, giving his partners a workout on the dance floor while he barely broke a sweat. The ladies loved dancing with Billy. Billy was kind-hearted and had an outgoing spirit. He wanted every day to be filled with laughter. Billy loved everyone and everyone loved Billy. Billy made his transition to be with the Lord on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Mr. William Aubrey Drake

January 9, 1956 - August 26, 2015