Janelle B. Drake

Janelle Blume Butler Drake, 91, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2023, at Lexington Medical Center with her family by her side. Janelle was born in New Brookland (now West Columbia), South Carolina on June 27, 1931. She was the daughter of the late Hubert Ryan Blume and Leola Graham Blume, was a lifelong resident of Lexington County, graduated from Brookland-Cayce High School in 1949, and was a charter member of Holland Avenue Baptist Church in West Columbia.

Janelle devoted her professional life to the field of dentistry where she became a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) in 1964. After serving as President of the Columbia Dental Assistants Society, she was then elected President of the SC Dental Assistants Association in 1965. Janelle served as Fourth District Trustee for the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA), was then elected to the Certifying Board of the ADAA before finally being elected President of the ADAA in 1980. During her career she was even tasked to testify before Congress in Washington, D.C. to fight for expanded rights for Dental Assistants surrounding dental radiography.

On October 31, 2013 at the 2013 ADAA Annual Conference Janelle received the D. Kay Mosley Distinguished Service Award as she had held every position of the ADAA at the local, state, and national levels during her career.

Alongside her storied career in the dental industry, Janelle was also heavily involved in the SC Association of Parliamentarians (SCAP). In 2018, she studied and passed the examination to become a Certified Parliamentarian at the age of 87. She then served as Secretary for the SCAP Capital Unit from 2018-2020. She also served as Parliamentarian for her home church, First Baptist Irmo, where she was also Chairwoman of the Constitution & Bylaws Committee.

Janelle, or “Janmama” as she was known by many, was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who was treasured by family and friends. She is survived by her son, Butch Butler (Tedi) of Columbia, SC; daughters, Beth Butler Viser (Jim) of Suffolk, VA, Dorri Butler Smith (Jarrell) of Lexington, SC, and Dari Drake Bartz of Belize; grandchildren, Catherine Butler, Paige Butler Morton, Max Butler, Will Herring, Macy Herring Turner, Gregory Smith, Andrew Smith, Caitlin Drake McKay, and Yuri Bartz; great-grandchildren, Caswell Herring, Ellison Herring, Claire Marie Herring, Blythe Herring, Charlie Morton, Neeley Morton, Corinne Smith, and Madison Smith; and her beloved dog, Bailey.

Janelle was predeceased by her husband, Thomas Jefferson “T.J.” Drake, Jr.; sisters, Bettie B. Knight and Martha Pearl Porter; brother, Jerry H. Blume; and grandson, Jace Herring.

Friends may visit with the family on Tuesday, March 14 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home at 503 North Lake Drive, Lexington, SC 29072. A celebration of Janelle’s life will then immediately follow at 2:00 p.m. in the Caughman-Harman Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Ken Jumper of The Harvest Church and Pastor Blair Smith of First Baptist Irmo officiating. Interment will then immediately follow the service at Southland Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be made in honor of “Janelle B. Drake, CDA” to the Professional Dental Assistants Education Foundation at adaausa.org/pdaef or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in honor of “Janelle Drake” by calling (800) 213-6584.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caughmanlexington.com for the Drake family.