Lawanda Lashon Drake

The beloved Ms. Lawanda Lashon Drake went home to be with the Lord on Friday, October 1, 2021. Age 48 years. She was born on April 6, 1973 in Saginaw, Michigan to Jacqueline Blunt Tables and Joe Willie Buell.

Lawanda was raised by a beautiful village that loved her like their very own. This village includes Carol Carroll (Mama Carol) Sylvester Carroll, and Donnia and Charles Drake. Lawanda accepted Christ in her life at an early age. She attended Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Burt, Michigan, under the Late Reverend Willie McMillon. Lawanda attended Ruben Daniels High School, where she was in the Center of Arts Program for her awesome voice. She played in the Worldwide Double Dutch Championship where she landed in first place with her team, the Saturn Dolls. Lawanda loved being with her family and playing cards. She was employed as a manager at McDonald’s for 20 years before retiring.

Lawanda leaves behind one daughter, Asha Carroll; three sons, Tavion Logan, Martez and Quintavious Drake; grandchildren, Demarquis, Samari and Londyn Drake, Isiah and Loyalty Logan; she also leaves a special loving sister who was her right hand, Dianne Drake; sisters, Linda Tables, Tina Marie Tables, Scherry Steward, Lisa Stewart, Charlotte Hillard, Delana Hillard, and Shon Wilson; special brother, Joe Willie (Sophia) Jones, Leon Weaver, Larry Steward, and Devin Drake; nephew, Mansel Reed, Jr.; special nephews, Treon (Shawn)Drake, Joe Willie Jones, Jr., Darnell Jones, Demoryion, Josiah, Malachi, Jermiah, Xzayvion, Jamal, Jey’mihran, E’saiah, and Earl; nieces, Quintoria, Lou’Antraniece, Antazijiah , Alyessianna, and Souliyah; special great-nieces and nephews, Treon Jr., Malaysia, Mansel, Dominique, and Dream A’mour; a host of aunts and uncles whom she loved dearly; special aunties, Loretta Hoosier and Shelia Lewis Buell; special cousins, Mark Hoosier and Janice Hulett-Wicker; special dear lifetime friends, Freddrick Temple, Takala Lowery, Shawntella Williams, Lena Lawson, Latoya Forster, Shelly Shell, and Mitchell Ezell.

Lawanda was preceded in death by her sons, Demarquis and Darquis Drake, sister, Shonda Drake, brother, Darnell Tables; uncles, William “Corn” Blunt, Bobby Ray Buell, James Hoosier, Brian Blunt, aunts, Deanna Blunt, and Norma Jean Hoosier, grandmother, Beatrice Blunt, and father, Sylvester Carroll.

The family wishes to express special thanks to everyone for your kind words of encouragement, and prayers during this difficult time, and to Ivan E. Phillips and the Staff of Paradise Funeral Chapel.