Joy Chere' Drake

Joy Chere’ Drake, a deeply devoted mother to her two children, departed this earthly life on Monday, August 16, 2021.

Joy was born on July 25, 1976 in Houston, Texas, to Charlene Curry Drake and the late Dr. George K. Drake, Sr. Joy devoted her life to inspiring and equipping others to live full, rich lives through mental healthcare, education, and music. She embraced the name that her parents gave her — that emotionally evocative term for an abiding assurance of a better tomorrow — as a personal charge to serve as a source of delight and happiness for every person she encountered. She was that source of joy for her family, her friends, her colleagues and her patients. Photos of Joy nearly invariably include a toothy smile so big, so heartfelt, and so bright that one can’t help but smile in return.

Joy was educated in the La Marque, Texas, public schools, graduating with honors from La Marque High School in 1994. In high school, she was an accomplished musician, earning regional and all-state honors on the flute and piccolo. During her senior year, Joy took a turn as both cheerleader and drum major, and at times could be seen directing the Cougar marching band in her bright gold cheerleading uniform. It was just one of the ways she would never miss an opportunity to devote all of herself to instilling a joyful spirit in those around her.

Joy earned a Bachelor of Arts in music from Southern Methodist University in 1999, a masters of social work from the University of Houston in 2008 and did doctoral coursework at Smith College. After graduating from college, she lived briefly in New York State, where she worked as a music therapist and child development center administrator. Upon returning to Houston, she managed a daycare, leading two dozen staff and teachers. One year, she brought in a snow machine, because she wanted the children to experience the exhilaration of a winter wonderland like what she experienced during her years in New York.

Joy later devoted herself to mental healthcare as a clinical social worker and therapist. She was a clinical social worker for Child Advocates of Fort Bend, providing therapy for child victims of abuse and neglect and later provided clinical assessments and support to individuals undergoing mental health crises in area emergency rooms for HCA Healthcare. For the last three years, Joy was a therapist with UT Physicians and had recently begun a second job as a telehealth therapist with Doctor on Demand. Reviews by Joy’s patients reveal that she was a truly gifted therapist, able to lift people out of despair and point them to a brighter future. After speaking with Joy, one client who had been consumed by grief, said, “I feel like I have a way forward.” Said another: “Joy was so friendly and warm. I felt comfortable opening up in our session and felt heard the entire time.” One said, simply, “Most amazing therapist anyone could hope of having!!”

Joy’s lodestar and primary repository for her loving spirit was her two adorable children, Graham and Ella, to whom she gave the full measure of devotion. No birthday passed without a celebration full of balloons, gifts, cake, entertainment, laughter, and smiles, so many smiles.

While covering everyone around her with love and encouragement and joy, she concealed from most her inward challenges. Joy overcame alcohol abuse and explicitly gave glory to God for a full year of hard-earned sobriety in the middle of this year. She also enlisted the support of her family, sought spiritual guidance, and obtained professional help in a years-long battle with her own mental health, challenges that endured but which she steadfastly refused to allow to dim the light with which she illuminated everyone around her through the very end.

She is preceded in death by her father Dr. George Kerry Drake, Sr., and an infant brother, Charles Kerry Drake. She leaves to cherish her memory, her precious children Graham William Milligan and Ella Charlene Milligan and their father and her former husband, Anaye Milligan, all of Houston; her mother Charlene Curry Drake of Fresno, Texas; loving siblings Cassius Marcellus (Jacqueline) Drake of Franklin, Mich., John Charles (Bettina) Drake of Olivette, Mo., and Chelsea Le’Kera Drake, of Fresno, Texas; half-siblings Deborah Ann (Carl Houston) Lewis-Bisor of Houston, Bruce Jerome Drake of Houston, George Kerry (Marilyn) Drake Jr. of Port Arthur, Texas, William Todd (Roxanne) Drake of Los Angeles, Calif., Kerree Dewaine Drake of Houston, Nona Ynaz Drake of Houston, and Al Jarreau (Jessica) Benjamin of Houston; nieces, nephews and a host of relatives and friends.

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