Margaret "Frances" Brake

Margaret “Frances” Brake, age 88, passed away on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Born at home in Edgecombe County on October 10, 1935, she was the oldest of six children born to the late Robert Earl Brake and Margaret Burges Brake. She grew up on her family’s farm in West Edgecombe County and attended West Edgecombe Baptist Church throughout her life. After she graduated from West Edgecombe School in 1953, she attended East Carolina University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education in 1957 followed by a Master of Arts degree in 1961. After earning her degrees, Frances taught elementary school for over thirty years, first in Burlington, NC followed by Newport News, VA and Greensboro, NC where she lived the most during her adult life until she returned home in 1993 after retiring to care for her aging parents. Upon returning home, she joined the West Edgecombe Homemaker’s Club. Throughout her teaching career and into retirement, Frances was an active member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary organization for women educators. Earlier this year, she celebrated fifty years of membership in the organization. Frances is survived by two brothers, Robert Luther “Bob” Brake, Sr. (Janice) and James Earl “Jimmy” Brake (Betty). In addition to her parents, her youngest brothers, John Thomas Brake and Julian David Brake predeceased her as well as a sister who died shortly after birth and close family friend of sixty-seven years, Kay Hargrove. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Audrey (John’s wife) and Nancy (Julian’s wife) and her nieces and nephews: Mary Margaret Epley (Derek), Robert Luther Brake, Jr. (Mary Elizabeth), Melissa Brake Plummer (Tripp), James Christian Brake (Chelley), Alston Brake Cobourn (Eric), Charles Burges Brake, and Benjamin Thomas Brake (Kelley) as well as six great-nephews and one great-niece. A Graveside Service to celebrate Frances’ life will be held on Saturday, August 24 at 11:00 AM at Pineview Cemetery, 761 E Raleigh Road, Rocky Mount, NC. Visitation with the family will follow the graveside service. Memorial donations may be made to West Edgecombe Baptist Church, 13821 NC Hwy 43 N, Rocky Mount, NC 27801 or to the Gamma Tau Chapter Alpha Delta Kappa, Attention Sandy Fretz, Treasurer, 3600 Tartancroft Pl, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.