James J. "Buddy" Drake, age 87, died Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at his home. Mr. Drake was a native of Rutherford County and son of the late James B. and Louise Mears Drake. He was also preceded in death by his first wife Mai Dell Douglas Drake and two sisters, Mary Love Phillips and Edith McKee.

Funeral Services will be at 10:30 AM Wednesday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Reverend Murray Mathis, Cory Drake, and Greg Dunn will officiate. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Gardens with military honors.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou McCormick Drake; sons, Michael Drake and his wife Amy of Murfreesboro and James B. Drake and his wife Lee Ann of Maryville; daughter, Marilynn Carvalho and Clyde of Murfreesboro; step-sons, Greg Dunn of Nashville, Craig and Kevin Dunn both of Murfreesboro; step-daughter, Kerri Webb of Smyrna; brother, Gus Drake and his wife Sandra, and two sisters Virginia Eddleman and Doris Spears all of Murfreesboro, 17 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Drake was a member of Powells Chapel Baptist Church. He attended Walter Hill School and retired USAF after 20 years. He was a member of Mt. Moriah Lodge #18.

Pallbearers will be Craig and Caleb Dunn, Kody Hurt, Brad Carvalho, Cory and Jeff Drake, Mikeal Short, Randy Bolin, Charles Phillips, Clyde Hall, Jonathan Webb, Ronald Dowdy, Roy and Milton Douglas.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Woodfin Memorial Chapel.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, PO Box 1000 Dept. 142, Memphis, TN, 38101 in memory of Mr. Drake

An online guestbook is available at www.woodfinchapel.com . Woodfin Memorial Chapel. 615-893-5151.