Margie H. Drake

Margie Marie Holder Heaster Drake, 96, of Spring Lake, passed into eternal rest and new life on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at her home surrounded by her beloved family. The story of her life is so rich and vivid, it deserves emphasis on each part.

She was born on November 26, 1928, in Harnett County, NC, the daughter of the late tobacco farmer, William Joseph and Ethel Melia West Holder. Margie was also preceded in death by her brothers, Charlie Maylon Holder (Vivian), William Dayton Holder (Betty Lou), and her nephew William Dayton (Butch) Holder (Pam). Surviving nieces and nephews include Curtis Holder (Denise), Rose Deal, (Doug), Kathy Langham (Mike). She also had many great nieces and nephews.

She worked as a switchboard operator at Fort Bragg, until meeting her first true love, McVeigh Llewellyn Heaster, Jr., originally from Ohio. They married in 1957 and enjoyed 19 precious years together until his untimely death in 1976. At that moment, she became the single parent of six young children ranging in age from 3-17, sacrificing so much of herself to bring them to adulthood over the next 15 years. Her treasured and devoted surviving children include Linda March Heaster Lay, McVeigh (Bud) Llewellyn Heaster III (Carole), Laura Dawn Smith (David), Gregory Burdette Heaster (Allison), Leona Gale Klaren (Chuck), Lydia Ann Street (Tony) and adopted Filipino daughter Bhombie Kobito (Bobby). She was blessed with ten grandchildren, Joey (Yuli), Jade (David), Jordan, Lewey, Niki (David), Kylie, Breanna, Zachary (Kayla), Caleb, and Luke. Step grandchildren include Katie Lumpkin and Sam and Nate Puckett. She also found joy in spending time with her fourteen great grandchildren.

At the age of 72, in 2000, she married Rev. Donnie Ray Drake Sr. of Lillington and celebrated life together until his death in 2016. She welcomed and loved her stepchildren, Kathy Blanton (Kenny), Tammy Hein (Joe), and Donnie Drake, Jr. In addition, she took joy in having multiple step-grands and great grands from their union.

From 2016 until now, she has celebrated every single moment of a vivacious life with her family, treasuring all the precious memories that will live forever in our hearts. We know where our perfect and beautiful Mother now resides, as we all eagerly anticipate a grand reunion one day. She was a devoted Christian woman, following Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, keeping His commandments until the day of her death.

Matthew 22: 37-39 "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

She exemplified these commands daily. One of her favorite chapters of God’s Holy Word was Psalm 92. If you knew her, you loved her, and she loved you. There will never be another soul as beautiful as hers.

The family will receive friends at 1 pm on Friday, January 10, 2025, followed by the funeral service at 2 pm at Layton Chapel Baptist Church, 1230 Anderson Creek School Rd., Spring Lake, NC 28390 with Pastor John Chancey officiating.  Burial will follow at Harnett Memorial Park in Lillington. 

Memorials may be made to Layton Chapel Church, her home church since 1935.

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